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Indonesian military commander disappointed about being denied entry to US
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Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo speaks at a discussion in the House of Representatives. (Antara/Wahyu Putro A)
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ndonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo has expressed his disappointment after having been denied permission to board a US-bound flight even though he has a valid visa and an invitation from the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
"I am disappointed since I have a good relationship with Gen. (Joseph) Dunford,” Gatot told reporters at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Tuesday.
“[I] once had my morning coffee at his house, had a good dinner while other US soldiers performed the song “Bengawan Solo” for me,” Gatot recalled his close relationship with the US military official.
“I wanted to go to the US to meet him but [the meeting] never happened,” he lamented.
Read also: US defense chief apologizes for Gatot being denied entry to US
Gatot was informed he was barred from entering the US as he and his wife, who both had valid visas, were about to fly from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport on Saturday. He was scheduled to attend a conference at the invitation of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford in Washington DC.
Despite US officials having apologized for the incident and saying the TNI chief is now free to go to the US, Gatot dismissed any chance that he might go in the near future.
"I will follow the President's instruction. [I haven’t received] any instruction from the President yet,” Gatot said.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi said Jakarta was still waiting for a clear explanation about why the incident happened in the first place. (dmr)
