Indonesian Armed Forces chief apologises over naming of warship

Commander-in-Chief’s apology during CNA interview the first from senior Indonesian official

By Sujadi Siswo, TODAY, 16 Apr 2014

JAKARTA — The Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces has apologised — the first time a senior Indonesian official has done so — over the naming of an Indonesian warship after two marines who carried out the bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore in 1965.

In an interview with Channel NewsAsia that was aired yesterday, General Moeldoko said: “I apologise. We have no ill intent whatsoever to stir emotions. Not at all.”

However, he stressed that the name of the frigate, Usman Harun, will remain — a decision he said the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) had made in December 2012 after a long process.

The episode — which caused a diplomatic row between the two countries — has been a learning process, he said.

Nevertheless, he is confident that future ties between the two militaries would grow even stronger.

Adding that relations between Singapore and Indonesia are on the mend, Gen Moeldoko said: “There have been communications among leaders. Singapore’s Chief of Defence and I have spoken.”

Usman Mohamed Ali and Harun Said were the marines who carried out the MacDonald House bombing, as part of former President Sukarno’s Konfrontasi campaign.

Three people were killed and 33 injured in the attack.

Gen Moeldoko said the TNI had not foreseen that the naming of the warship would spark an emotional reaction from Singapore.

He said: “Indonesia didn’t think that ‘Usman Harun’ would eventually turn into a polemic such as this. Why? It’s because from the onset we did not have the tendency to stir emotions of the past. Not at all.

“However, there are sensitivities that we did not foresee and it escalated. It is my responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief of the TNI to offer clarification and to take steps to ensure that the situation does not escalate.”

The row between the two countries saw several Singapore Cabinet ministers expressing their concerns with their Jakarta counterparts.

Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa had assured Singapore that Jakarta meant no ill will or malice — a move that was welcomed by his Singapore counterpart, Mr K Shanmugam.

But in March, Indonesian marines dressed as Usman and Harun were spotted at the Jakarta International Defence Dialogue. It prompted the Singapore delegation to withdraw from the event.

Gen Moeldoko said he had since taken steps to de-escalate the situation and normalise ties between TNI and the Singapore Armed Forces, including inviting Singapore to take part in a multilateral exercise earlier this year.

He said: “We gave the opportunity to our Singaporean counterparts to join 17 other countries in the Komodo Exercise.

“To me, it was a very positive step by us towards rebuilding ties.”

He is confident that ties between the two armed forces would continue to be strong and based on mutual trust, respect and honesty.

Gen Moeldoko said: “As long as we are able to maintain trust and honesty between us, I believe relations can proceed well.

“I am confident future prospects will be good because we are part of an ASEAN community that has common needs, common interests that I believe makes it easier for strong ties to be rebuilt.”

General's apology accepted 'at face value': Eng Hen
Minister stresses importance of how both countries move on from issue
By Toh Yong Chuan, The Straits Times, 21 Apr 2014

SINGAPORE will accept Indonesia's apology over the naming of a new warship at "face value" and both countries have to find ways to move forward, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday.

He was responding to clarifications by Indonesia's armed forces commander, General Moeldoko, who said on Thursday that he did not apologise over the naming of a new navy frigate Usman Harun, after two Indonesian marines behind a 1965 bombing in Singapore.

The top military brass had said in a television interview with Channel NewsAsia this week: "We have no intent whatsoever to stir emotions. Not at all... I apologise."

But on Thursday, he claimed that the media had "twisted" his comments and he had said sorry only for Indonesia's "final decision" to name the warship.

Dr Ng would not be drawn into commenting on the latest about-turn.

"They have acknowledged that they have stirred up emotions... They regret that emotions have been stirred, they meant no ill intent. I think we take that at face value," said Dr Ng to reporters on the sidelines of a community event yesterday.

He added: "It's not productive for us to get involved in their domestic politics."

But the minister acknowledged that Singaporeans may feel confused or even upset over the recent developments.

"We sometimes may not fully understand the ways of others," he noted, adding it is important for Singapore to focus on "what we believe in, what we stand for".

"When you do that, others will treat you with respect."

Post by cyberpioneer.

The two marines were convicted of the bombing of MacDonald House in Orchard Road during Konfrontasi. The incident killed three civilians and injured 33.

Their execution in 1968 sparked tensions with Indonesia, which declared them national heroes.

In February, bilateral military ties were strained when news broke that Indonesia had decided to name a new frigate after the duo, with Singapore saying the move would re-open old wounds.

Moving forward, Dr Ng stressed yesterday that Singapore wants good relations with Indonesia and it is vital for both countries to move beyond the spat.

He also laid out the basis for doing so: "How we move forward will depend on our ability to treat each other with mutual respect and regard as sovereign equals."

"I am confident we can rebuild trust and confidence that has been built up over many decades," he added.

Still, despite the conciliatory tone yesterday, Dr Ng made it plain that the ban on the warship in exercises with Singapore remains unchanged.

"That still stands," the minister said. "We have made our position clear so nothing has changed."

Much to regret in this sorry episode
Editorial, The Straits Times, 19 Apr 2014

THOSE who wonder why sensitivity radars failed over the misnaming of an Indonesian frigate - despite decades of close ties between neighbours - need look no farther than the flip-flop apology of Indonesia's armed forces commander, General Moeldoko.

Indeed, the symbolism is larger than life when a warship is involved; and a painful reminder of erstwhile aggression against innocent civilians is projected beyond Indonesia's shores. Some contend that a mitigating factor might be that the central figures in this unhappy saga are seen as terrorists by one side and heroes by the other. But let's be plain about one thing: the two Indonesian marines attacked and killed civilians under the cloak of carrying out orders in the name of their state. Repeat that anywhere today, and they would be universally condemned as terrorists, without question or justification. That, apparently, is still not quite appreciated by some in Jakarta.

So, is it a case of no ill will or malice being intended, as Gen Moeldoko had plainly emphasised earlier? Pride dictates that the frigate's name will remain unchanged. But the absence of malice has once again been left in doubt by the manner in which he has qualified his earlier conciliatory statements which had been broadcast, officially posted on Facebook and tweeted. The on-off "apology" now joins the unfortunate series of acts linked to the frigate's naming, like the insistence of senior Indonesian figures who felt Singaporeans do protest too much and the prank - what else to call it but silly? - of marines ordered to pose as the bombers at an international defence conference in Jakarta.

There are ample pragmatic reasons for both nations to close this sorry chapter and resume a path of cooperation. But picking up the threads of military-to-military ties, painstakingly fostered since the 1970s, is never a straightforward matter as the latest events have shown. The influence of politics can undo the positive intentions of fair-minded and well-disposed leaders even at the best of times.

Even if a younger generation had wanted to leave behind the acrimony of the 1965 MacDonald House bombing, they now find the old hurts resurfaced and reinforced by the slight upon slight in the recent Usman Harun episode. Forgotten, too, might be the past experience of bilateral cooperation and the statesmanship of former president Suharto and prime minister Lee Kuan Yew who ushered in an era of regional peace. Singaporeans might well conclude that they are best off not worrying too much about any apology, since none will come with sincerity or real regret. The damage to ties might thus be lasting, and deep. That would be a pity, and something everyone will be sorry for.

* Indonesian military chief says 'no apology over ship'
By Zakir Hussain, Indonesia Bureau Chief, In Jakarta, The Straits Times, 18 Apr 2014

INDONESIA'S Armed Forces Commander, General Moeldoko, has said he did not apologise over the naming of a new navy frigate - the KRI Usman Harun - after two Indonesian marines behind a 1965 bombing in Singapore.

Gen Moeldoko told reporters yesterday that the "apology", made in an interview with Channel NewsAsia (CNA) broadcast on Tuesday, was misinterpreted.

"Saying sorry that the naming of the Usman Harun is our final decision does not mean saying sorry. If things are twisted, that's normal for reporters," he said.

"There was no apology. What I meant was: 'Sorry, the naming of the Usman Harun is our final decision'."

Post by Channel NewsAsia Singapore.

His latest remarks, made to reporters at the Istana ahead of a Cabinet meeting, came as several Indonesian MPs and observers criticised him for saying sorry during the interview. They said it harmed Indonesia's dignity and insulted the memory of marines Osman Mohamed Ali and Harun Said.

MP Susaningtyas Kertopati of Parliament's defence committee said the military chief should not have been so quick to apologise to a neighbour.

University of Indonesia international law professor Hikmahanto Juwana called on Gen Moeldoko to clarify his comments, "so that the Indonesian public will not feel betrayed".

Gen Moeldoko had told CNA: "Our decision is to stick to the name, and once again I apologise, we have no ill intent whatsoever to stir emotions. Not at all."

Not long after the interview was aired, a link was posted on Gen Moeldoko's official Facebook page with the explanation: "We apologise over the naming of the ship 'Usman Harun' if Singapore feels hurt, but as a sovereign nation, Indonesia sticks by its decision and will not change the name of the ship. On this matter, both countries have been in constant communication."

He also thanked The Straits Times on Twitter for reporting his comments, saying: "I hope my apology is the first step to further our strong relations with Singapore."

Both posts, however, have been taken down.

Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen had on Wednesday welcomed the apology, saying it was "a constructive gesture" to improve bilateral defence ties.

The two marines were convicted of the bombing of MacDonald House in Orchard Road, which killed three civilians and injured 33, during Konfrontasi. They were executed in 1968, sparking tensions with Indonesia, which declared them national heroes.

Indonesia's decision to name a new frigate after them strained bilateral military ties when the news broke in February, with Singapore saying the move would reopen old wounds. It also said the ship would not be allowed to stop at Singapore ports or naval bases.

Indonesia maintained that the naming, decided much earlier, was in line with its tradition of naming ships after heroes and that no ill-will was intended. 

Yesterday, Indonesian Armed Forces spokesman Fuad Basya clarified that the apology was misinterpreted as Gen Moeldoko apologising for naming the KRI Usman Harun, when it was meant as an apology for not meeting the demand to reconsider the naming of the warship.

"I reiterate it was not an apology to the Singapore Government for naming the warship," he said.

Singapore welcomes Indonesia’s apology over naming of warship
The Singapore Armed Forces will resume bilateral cooperation and activities with the Indonesian Armed Forces: Ng Eng Hen
TODAY, 16 Apr 2014

Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen has welcomed the Commander-in-Chief of the Indonesian Armed Forces’ apology over the naming of an Indonesian warship after two marines who carried out the bombing of MacDonald House in Singapore in 1965.

“I welcome General Moeldoko’s apology as a constructive gesture to improve bilateral defence ties between our two countries,” said Dr Ng in a statement today (April 16).

“The SAF (Singapore Armed Forces) will reciprocate General Moeldoko’s positive intentions by resuming bilateral cooperation and activities with the TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces) so as to strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship that has been built up over many decades,” he said.

The apology is the first by a senior Indonesian official. In an interview with Channel NewsAsia that was aired yesterday, Gen Moeldoko said: “I apologise. We have no ill intent whatsoever to stir emotions. Not at all.”

The naming of the warship after Usman Mohamed Ali and Harun Said, the marines who carried out the MacDonald House bombing as part of former President Sukarno’s Konfrontasi campaign, had caused a diplomatic row between the two countries. The attack had killed three people and injured 33.

Naming of frigate: Jakarta general expresses regret
But ship name will remain, says armed forces commander
By Zakir Hussain Indonesia Bureau Chief In Jakarta, The Straits Times, 16 Apr 2014

INDONESIA'S armed forces commander, General Moeldoko, has expressed regret over the naming of a new frigate after two marines responsible for a bombing in Orchard Road in 1965.

"We have no ill intent whatsoever to stir emotions. Not at all," he told Channel NewsAsia in an interview. "I apologise."

Gen Moeldoko, however, said that the name of the ship would remain the KRI Usman Harun.

"Relations between the two countries are on the mend," he said, adding that he had spoken with his Singapore counterpart, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng.

Gen Moeldoko's apology is the first by an Indonesian military official, and signals a desire to close a chapter that has strained close military ties between the two neighbours since it was reported in February that Indonesia would name a frigate after marines Osman Mohamed Ali and Harun Said.

"It shows the armed forces leadership is taking seriously its bilateral relationship with Singapore, and possibly trying to close this chapter," Dr Terence Lee of the National University of Singapore told The Straits Times.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have established strong ties since the 1970s and conduct a host of regular bilateral exercises. Gen Moeldoko's comments are the clearest sign yet that Jakarta wants to restore the relationship.

The marines were convicted for the MacDonald House bombing that killed three civilians and injured 33. They were executed in Singapore in 1968, prompting tensions with Indonesia, which called them heroes and buried them with full military honours. Both sides closed this chapter in 1973 when then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew sprinkled flowers on their graves during a visit to Jakarta.

The February report drew protests from Singapore, and Singapore ministers told their counterparts the move would reopen old wounds. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told Parliament in February the ship would not be allowed to stop at Singapore ports or naval bases, and it would not be possible for the SAF to sail alongside or train with the KRI Usman Harun.

"We want good bilateral defence and close military-to-military ties with Indonesia," Dr Ng had said. "But strong defence ties can be built only on mutual trust and respect, expressed through appropriate acts that underscore friendship and amity."

Indonesian ministers maintained that the naming, decided much earlier, was in line with the navy tradition of naming ships after the country's heroes, and that no ill will was intended.

The issue resurfaced last month when two Indonesian marines posed as the bombers at an international defence conference in Jakarta. The SAF delegation withdrew from the event and returned to Singapore. Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mr Djoko Suyanto, expressed regret over the incident and the inappropriate conduct of the men.

Gen Moeldoko noted that Singapore took part in a multilateral naval exercise that Indonesia hosted off Batam and the Natunas late last month, and said this was a positive step to rebuilding ties.

He also said in the interview on Monday that although there was no intention to stir emotions, "there are sensitivities that we did not foresee and it escalated".

"It is my responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief of the TNI to offer clarification and to take steps to ensure that the situation does not escalate," he said.

Sorry is the hardest word for some
By Kornelius Purba, Published The Straits Times, 26 Apr 2014

REPORTS of Indonesian Military (TNI) chief General Moeldoko's apology to Singapore have sparked noisy protests from the Indonesian public, while in Singapore, he has been ridiculed for wearing a luxury watch during an interview with Channel News Asia, during which he made the reconciliatory statement.

Many Indonesians will not agree with me, but I believe that the TNI chief's apology, if any, to Singapore in connection with the naming of a corvette after two marines who were hanged in Singapore for a bomb attack there in 1965 was a wise decision. His apology will not change anything, but he has won the hearts of many Singaporeans, including their leaders.

In an interview with TV correspondent Sujadi Siswo, which was aired last Tuesday, the four-star general apologised for hurting the feelings of Singaporeans in the case of the Usman-Harun warship.

"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 have been communications between leaders. Singapore's chief of defence and I have spoken," the general said.

Gen Moeldoko denied the apology statement and blamed the interpreter for wrongly translating his Indonesian remarks into English. The general apparently did not realise that nowadays people can just go to YouTube to check the interview. It is hard to believe this was a case of "lost in translation" after watching the TV programme. Gen Moeldoko himself initially posted a link to the TV channel on his own Facebook account but it was removed after the uproar.

I suspect the general had to "lie" because of the protests. He did not want to be judged as a "traitor" to his nation, as indicated by professor of law at University of Indonesia (UI) Hikmahanto Juwana.

"The TNI chief should clarify his apology statement so that the Indonesian public do not feel betrayed [by him]," said Prof Hikmahanto, as quoted by tempo.com.

As reported by Agence France-Presse, Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen welcomed the apology, saying it was a "constructive gesture to improve bilateral defence ties". It would "strengthen the mutual understanding and friendship that has been built up over many decades", he said in a statement.

While many people criticised President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for saying "sorry" to Singaporeans and Malaysians who had to suffer from the haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia, I agreed with the President because the haze affected millions of people in the two neighbouring countries, including visiting Indonesians.

"For what is happening, as President, I apologise to our brothers in Singapore and Malaysia," Dr Yudhoyono said last year. He asked for their understanding and said Indonesia was working hard to fight the fires, which are often set by farmers to clear fields.

Dr Yudhoyono then issued a harsh statement on Singapore's behaviour towards its giant neighbour.

Like his supreme commander, Gen Moeldoko also "retracted" his statement following protests at home. It was regrettable. They just bowed to public pressure.

However, Gen Moeldoko's response to the public criticism of his alleged "hobby" of "showing off" his super-expensive watches in public is more regrettable. His denials only deepened public suspicion about his wealth. His statement that the watches were fake was not convincing, although we could assume that he was being honest, because many people can easily check the authenticity of his jewellery on the Internet.

It is nearly impossible to convince the public that he was frank about his watches. It is understandable that the general was nervous because the follow- up question was how he could afford them.

In a comment posted on a website in Singapore, a social media activist wrote about Gen Moeldoko's style during the interview. "He did it in style. Wearing what appears to be a Richard Mille RM 011 Felipe Massa Flyback Chronograph 'Black Kite'."

In Indonesia, "mohon maaf" (forgive me, or sometimes, excuse me), is a very common expression, and very often it is meant just as a courtesy or lip service. But Indonesians are also often very demanding of those who have done something wrong to them, while they are very reluctant to apologise to those whom they have offended or harmed.

During the Idul Fitri festival, Muslims greet each other with "mohon maaf lahir batin" (I apologise with heart and soul). But try to reply with "I have forgiven all your wrongdoings" and many people would laugh or get upset. It means sometimes that such an apology should not be taken too seriously.

Gen Moeldoko was correct when he said Indonesia did not intend to offend Singapore while strictly maintaining its decision. We are 100 per cent right but we were still insensitive. As the largest Asean member, Indonesia needs to act in line with its capacity to receive respect from smaller neighbours. Of course, the same rule applies to our friends.

The general is now facing great difficulties in his public relations job of appeasing those who question his wealth. He needs to remember the phenomenon in Indonesia that the stronger you react and deny, the more people distrust you.

JAKARTA POST

The writer is managing editor at The Jakarta Post.