Momentum builds up in Natuna war games

Momentum builds up in Natuna war games

ABOARD KRI ARUN (JP): An enemy fighter was shot down by a
missile launched from KRI Slamet Riyadi, but not before it fired
a rocket at another Indonesian warship, injuring four soldiers.

That was the news bulletin issued to reporters yesterday by
the command headquarters of the joint operation, stationed on
board this ship, in the current mock war to recapture the Natuna
Islands in the South China Sea.

Momentum is building up towards tomorrow's D-day, the massive
raid by air, sea and land by Indonesian forces sent out to wrest
the islands back from enemy hands.

More than 19,000 soldiers from the Army, Navy and Air Force
are taking part in the joint exercise that will reach its climax
tomorrow. Forty warships will be taking part as well as 50
planes, including a number of F-16 fighter planes.

Yesterday, an aging Soviet-built Mig-23 fighter belonging to
the enemy was sent out to scare away the armada of 40 warships
that is currently sailing for the Natunas.

A sea-to-air harpoon missile fired from KRI Slamet Riyadi did
a clean job of bringing the plane down.

Subsequent to this skirmish, a unit of Army paramedics were
sent out from KRI Arun on a N-Bell helicopter to treat the four
soldiers injured on the KRI Teluk Endeh.

There had also been skirmishes on the Natuna Islands since
Wednesday, with Indonesian planes pounding the Ranai airstrip
which is under enemy control.

KRI Slamet Riyadi is also heading the campaign to land a
battalion of the Marines Corps and a battalion of amphibious
forces of the Air Force's special force (Paskas) on the islands.

An advance team of 42 troops selected from the Navy's Marine
Corps, the Army's special force (Kopassus) and the Air Force's
Paskas, had already been parachuted onto the islands.

The team has been sending intelligence back to the command
headquarters to help with the planned massive landing.

Another unit of 28 Kopassus soldiers also landed on the island
to infiltrate enemy lines.

Brig. Gen. Ismed Yuzairi, the commander of the joint exercise,
who is monitoring the situation from KRI Arun, said that in the
two days before D-day, everything had gone according to plan.

"The aggressors are weakening," Ismed told The Jakarta Post.
"We've shot down some of their planes."

The exercise, which began on Sept. 4, is slated to end on
Sept. 18. (rms)