Indonesian MPs, Officers Dismiss Singapore Objections

The Straits Times

07 February 2014

SINGAPORE’S objections to the naming of a new Indonesian naval frigate KRI Usman Harun were widely reported online in Indonesia, but brushed off by officers in the Indonesian military and MPs, who said a change of heart would imply weakness.

Indonesian Navy spokesman First Admiral Untung Suropati told Tempo.co news website: “They can go ahead and object – we are convinced the marines are heroes who should be emulated.”

Indonesian Democratic Party- Struggle (PDI-P) MP Tubagus Hasanuddin told reporters that the government should reject any effort to rename the ship.

… Associate Professor Leonard Sebastian, who coordinates the Indonesia programme at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said bilateral ties would not be affected.

“Both sides know what the issues are,” he said

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