More flights to E. Timor

More flights to E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): The Air Force has increased its flights to East
Timor in line with increasing demands for air transportation
facilities on the eve of Monday's ballot.

"Besides regular flights, the Air Force has implemented
additional flights to transport military and civilian officials
to the province," Commodore Bachrum, chief spokesman for the Air
Force, told The Jakarta Post here on Saturday.

He said the additional flights were needed because state-owned
airline Merpati had not added extra flights to the province.
Merpati now serves the Jakarta-Dili route every day except
Wednesday and Friday.

Regular Air Force flights use a Hercules C-16 cargo aircraft.

Bachrum said that the frequency of additional flights depends
on the Military Headquarters.

"The Air Force aircraft should be standing by any time they
are needed," he said. He said an Air Force Fokker-28 was
instructed by TNI Headquarters on Friday to transport military
officials and 20 local journalists.

Bachrum predicted that more additional flights would be made
to Dili after the ballot to bring back military and civilian
officials and local journalists.

Due to a lack of air transportation facilities, the Navy
recently deployed a warship to transport more than 350 Indonesian
observers to Dili. (rms)