Indonesian Air Force warns air intruders
JAKARTA (JP): With reports of intrusion into the country's airspace bordering East Timor becoming more and more common, the Indonesian Air Force warned on Sunday that it would not hesitate to shoot down any foreign airplanes, viewing such violations as a threat to the country's sovereignty.
Air Force Chief of Staff Air Marshal Hanafie Asnan said four jet fighters would be stationed at Kupang air base in anticipation of intensifying air trespasses into the country's half of Timor island.
The fleet will be comprised of two F-5E Tigers and two other U.S-made aircraft F-16 Falcons now standing by at Madiun air base in East Java.
"We decided to dispatch the jet fighters after learning that diplomatic talks had gone nowhere," he said after a ceremony marking the Air Force's 54th anniversary celebration at Halim Perdanakusuma airport compound.
For strategic reasons, Kupang air base will be upgraded from C to B status, meaning that a fleet of fighting aircraft will always be ready there.
Hanafie said that the Air Force would follow international procedure to deal with airspace intruders.
The procedures require the Air Force planes to escort intruding airplanes and guide them out of the country's territory first before taking sterner measures.
Commander of the Makassar-based National Air Defense Operation Commodore M. Basri Sidehabi said on Friday that at least nine foreign airplanes had illegally flown over Indonesia's skies in the last two months.
They included a helicopter belonging to the United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor (UNTAET), which Basri said crossed the border last week.
Hanafie said East Timor's independence from Indonesia had generated many international flight routes to Indonesia's former province.
"Usually countries that want to know about Indonesia fly through this international route," Hanafie said.
Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Adm. Widodo AS, who presided over the ceremony, said afterward the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) in East Timor had yet to respond to TNI's proposal to boost cooperation between the two parties in maintaining order and security along the border.
The proposal covers three points: to allow the UNPKF to place liaison officers in Atambua and several border posts, and in exchange to ask the UNPKF to allow the TNI to place its liaison officers in the headquarters of the western sector; to build four to five joint posts along the border; and to hold joint patrols to eliminate distrust.
Widodo also renewed his denial that TNI has been training pro- Indonesia militias to attack East Timor as reported by Australia's Sydney Morning Herald.
Widodo said that TNI had seriously enforced law in dealing with militia activities. He added so far TNI had confiscated 251 weapons and brought one militia activist to justice.
Also attending the celebration former Air Force commanders, including Omar Dhani who was dismissed for his alleged involvement in the abortive coup in 1965, chief of Army Strategic Reserve Command (Kostrad) Maj. Gen. Agus Wirahadikusumah, and some foreign dignitaries.
Thousands of people were seen enthusiastically watching the celebration, which was highlighted by an aerobatics show performed by six British-made Hawk MK-53 jet fighters. (08)