National

Air Force Sends Four F-16s to Ambalat
Monday, 07 March, 2005 | 17:13 WIB

“But this is not intended as any form of provocation,” Air Force Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Joko Suyanto told reporters after a meeting with the President at the State Palace.

Suyanto was summoned by the president together with the Chiefs of Staff of the other three forces and the TNI Commander In Chief General Endriartono Sutarto.
According to the Air Force Chief of Staff, the planes left from the Air Force base in Madiun and by Sunday had already arrived at the Air Force base in Balikpapan

Will the planes immediately go on patrol?
“That depends on coordination with the Navy,” Suyanto said, adding, “The purpose is to do patrols with the Navy, not as any form of provocation. The Air Force and the Navy must back up each other.”

Following the dispatch of the planes, the government has also increased the number of warships in the area from four to six.
During the meeting, the President stressed that the presence of the warships and planes was to put real emphasis on Indonesia’s sovereignty.
The dispatch of the planes, according to Suyanto, was not at the order of the President, but at the order of the TNI Commander in Chief.

Abdul Manan