No apology for ship naming, says Indonesian army chief

SINGAPORE — The head of the Indonesian Armed Forces, General Moeldoko, today (April 17) said that he had not apologised to the Singapore Government for the naming of a warship after two Indonesian marines who bombed MacDonald House in Singapore in 1965.

Instead, he clarified that he was expressing his regret that the naming decision was final and would not be changed.

General Moeldoko made this clarification to the Indonesian media at the President’s Office in Jakarta before a cabinet session.

In an exclusive interview which Channel NewsAsia (CNA) aired on Tuesday (April 15) night, General Moeldoko was asked by CNA senior Southeast Asia correspondent Sujadi Siswo about the decision to name a warship Usman Harun after the two Indonesian marines, and the ties between the two countries.

General Moeldoko had said: “Once again I apologise. We have no ill-intent whatsoever to stir emotions. Not at all. Second, relations between the two countries are on the mend. There’ve been communications among leaders. Singapore’s Chief of Defence and I have spoken.”

Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen had yesterday (April 16) said that he welcomed General Moeldoko’s comments, and said the Singapore Armed Forces would resume bilateral cooperation with the TNI.

Following the airing of the interview, General Moeldoko posted a link to the Channel NewsAsia story on his own Facebook page. There was, however, a mixed reaction. He was questioned by some Indonesians as to why he had apologised.

These posts have since been removed from General Moeldoko’s Facebook page.

Citing the right of reply, the head of TNI’s public affairs has also written to Channel NewsAsia to clarify the comments by the TNI chief so that there would be “no misinterpretation and misperception.”

Echoing General Moeldoko’s comments to the Indonesian media, the public affairs head said that “the TNI Commander was expressing his regrets that the naming was final and would not change.”

The letter was copied to the chiefs of staff of the Indonesian Army, Navy, Air Force, and the head of TNI Intelligence. CHANNEL NEWSASIA