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Anti-US banners on TNI chief's barred entry taken down
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Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo delivers his remarks during a mass prayer at Merdeka Square in Central Jakarta. (Antara/Angga Pratama)
B
anners erected in South Jakarta protesting the United States' decision to bar Indonesian Armed Forcers (TNI) Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo to fly to the country were taken down on Monday.
South Jakarta Public Order Agency head Ujang Hermawan was quoted as saying that the banners were taken down on the grounds that they were provocative.
#FakeNewsIndonesia Spanduk Ancam Dubes AS Dicopot #StopReklamasi pic.twitter.com/UMW7UO5u0R
— Ekonomi Hancur!! (@infohargasaham) October 23, 2017
A white banner erected at the Dukuh Atas pedestrian bridge on Jl. Sudirman read: “Kick out US Ambassador from the homeland!” In South Kemang, another banner read: “Send home US citizens from Indonesia!”
#News: Spanduk Usir Dubes Amerika Diturunkan https://t.co/PdArXvkVxX
— INFO PONDOK INDAH (@pondokindahinfo) October 23, 2017
Ujang told kompas.com on Monday, “Our officers have taken down the two banners. I will communicate with the Police [to investigate them].”
He added that he had instructed his subordinates to check other locations in the municipality for similar banners.
Gatot and his wife, Enny Trimurti, were set to fly on Saturday to Washington, DC for a conference.
The TNI commander had all necessary travel documents, including a US visa and an invitation from the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, who had asked him to attend the Chiefs of Defense Conference on Countering Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs) on Oct. 23-24.
Gatot was already at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport when an Emirates airline official informed him that the US Customs and Border Protection Agency had barred him and his delegation from boarding the US-bound flight.
The ban has reportedly been revoked. (fac)
