Singapore bans disputed Indonesian navy ship
SINGAPORE: Singapore said on Tuesday it will ban from its ports and naval bases an Indonesian navy ship named after two marines who bombed an office complex in the city-state during a period of tense relations in the 1960s.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said the ship will be barred in an ongoing dispute over the Indonesian navy's decision to name a refurbished frigate after the two marines, Usman Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun Said, who were convicted and executed in Singapore for the bombing of the downtown MacDonald House in March 1965.
The attack killed three people and injured 33 others.
It was part of an effort by then Indonesian president Sukarno to stage an armed confrontation against the newly formed federation of Malaysia, which included Singapore.
"Singapore will not allow this military ship named Usman Harun to call at our ports and naval bases," Ng said in parliament Tuesday. "It will not be possible for the SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) as protectors of this nation to sail alongside or exercise with this ship." In an emotionally charged speech, Ng said the defence ministry and the SAF were "disappointed and dismayed at this inexplicable move". "Even without ill intent, how can the naming of the ship after two bombers build good ties or enhance mutual respect and regard with both our countries," he said.
The two marines were members of Indonesia's special Operations Corps Command, now the Marine Corps, who had been ordered to infiltrate Singapore.
Ng said the Indonesian vessel's presence in the high seas would be a "constant reminder of the military aggression and atrocious crimes committed by the Indonesian marines who killed or irreparably damaged the lives of innocent civilians and their families in Singapore". He added however that Singapore would not "overread and jump at shadows" over Indonesia's move, and would look to rebuild good bilateral military ties with its larger neighbour.
| Reply via web post | Reply to sender | Reply to group | Start a New Topic | Messages in this topic (1) |
to Subscribe via email :
batavia-news-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
----------------------------------------
VISIT Batavia News Blog
http://batavia-news-networks.blogspot.com/
----------------------------
You could be Earning Instant Cash Deposits
in the Next 30 Minutes
No harm to try - Please Click
http://tinyurl.com/bimagroup
--------------
No comments:
Post a Comment