TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
House backs govt in Usman-Harun row
Members of the House of Representatives are supporting the governmentâs decision to ignore Singaporeâs concerns about naming an Indonesian Navy ship after two national heroes who were executed in the city-state for the 1965 MacDonald House bombing
Change Size
M
embers of the House of Representatives are supporting the government's decision to ignore Singapore's concerns about naming an Indonesian Navy ship after two national heroes who were executed in the city-state for the 1965 MacDonald House bombing.
The Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently registered its complaint over the Indonesian Navy's decision to name a British-made corvette after two marines, Second Sgt. Usman bin Haji Muhammad Ali and Second Cpl. Harun bin Said, who carried out a deadly bombing in Singapore in the 1960s.
The ministry was concerned that the newly christened KRI Usman-Harun 356 'would have impact on the feelings of Singaporeans, especially the families of the victims'.
Lawmakers of House Commission I overseeing defense called on the Indonesian government to pay no heed to the complaint, noting that Singapore had no right to meddle in the naming of an Indonesian vessel.
'What is the motive of the Singaporean government?' Tjahjo Kumolo, a Commission I member from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said on Friday, as quoted by Antara news agency.
'It is the right of the Republic of Indonesia, in particular the Indonesian Military [TNI], to give whatever name they want,' he continued.
Ahmad Muzani, a Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) Party lawmaker, said to ease the tension, the government needed to provide an explanation to Singapore about the considerations behind the decision.
'The government should point to the spirit of patriotism,' he said, as reported by tempo.co.
Usman and Harun launched the bombing as part of Indonesia's strategy to infiltrate Singapore during the confrontation with newly independent Malaysia, which was perceived as British puppet state by then Indonesian president
Sukarno.
Following the bombing, the two marines were hanged in Singapore in 1968. Back in Indonesia, the government bestowed the title of national hero on both, with a state funeral at Kalibata National Cemetery in South Jakarta.
Government officials reaffirmed they would not change the name, which was deliberated by a team consisting of officials from the TNI and the Defense Ministry.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said the government had taken note of Singapore's concerns and that was 'enough to settle everything'.
The row on the ship's name is the latest form of diplomatic tensions faced by Indonesia and Singapore
following US-led surveillance revelations that emerged last year.
In November 2013, the Indonesian Foreign Ministry demanded clarification from its Singaporean counterpart over reports that Singapore was involved in spying in the region, including in Indonesia.
Singapore would not be drawn into confirming or denying the allegations.
Lawmaker Susaningtyas Kertopati suggested the ship controversy would not undermine the bilateral relationship if both countries respected the other's version of history. 'I think it won't disturb our diplomatic relationship. Singapore has its history, so do we,' said Susaningtyas, a People's Conscience (Hanura) Party politician.
