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Indonesia demands explanation from Washington
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Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo speaks at a discussion in the House of Representatives. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
I
ndonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and his wife, Enny Trimurti, were set to fly to Washington DC, for a conference, on Saturday.
He had all his travel documents with him, including a United States visa and an invitation from the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, who asked him to attend the Chiefs of Defense Conference on Countering Violent Extremist Organizations (VEOs) from Oct. 23-24.
Gatot had confirmed his attendance as a form of appreciation and respect to his US counterparts, said TNI spokesperson Maj. Gen. Wuryanto.
The military commander was already at the Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, when an official from the Dubai-based Emirates carrier dropped the bombshell: the US Customs and Border Protection Agency had barred him and his delegation from boarding the USbound flight.
The news has baffled many as Gatot visited the US in February 2016 without hindrance.
As of Sunday night, TNI and government officials are still in the dark about the US policy.
“We have sent a letter to the US Joint Chiefs of Staff [to ask about the matter] but we haven’t received any response,” Wuryanto said.
