Singapore Signals “Strong Displeasure”

The Nation (Thailand)

11 February 2014

As the controversy over the Indonesian Navy’s decision to name a new frigate KRI Usman Harun continues, officers and observers say it appears Singapore is keen to signal its strong displeasure on the matter.

Indonesian defence spokesmen said Singapore’s Ministry of Defence rescinded invitations to 100 Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) officers who were slated to attend the Singapore Airshow starting today.
The move came days after five Singapore ministers conveyed their concerns over the insensitivity of the decision to name the ship after two marines who bombed MacDonald House on Orchard Road in 1965, killing three people and injuring 33 others.

… General Moeldoko was scheduled to deliver a lecture organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) tomorrow, but it would appear that is now off.
Military officers and observers see the latest developments as signalling that as far as Singapore is concerned, there are consequences to what many in Indonesia argue is an internal matter.

Deputy director of the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at the RSIS Dr Tan See Seng said the latest moves are a “reflection that Singapore treats this incident very seriously and wants to convey that impression”.

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