| Subject: Berita Buana: Hawks in routine exercise,
Wrianto Date: Sun, 01 Aug 1999 11:21:54 -0400 From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org> BBC Summary of World Broadcasts Defence minister denies British Hawk jets used in East Timor Text of report by Indonesian 'Berita Buana' web site on 24th July Surabaya: Minister for Defence and Security/Commander Indonesian Military Forces (TNI) Gen Wiranto said that the Hawk fighter jets flying over East Timor were involved in routine exercises connected with national reconnaissance, and not participating in anti-guerrilla operations as alleged by the British government. East Timor was still Indonesian territory, so flights into East Timor air space were quite proper. "It's our national territory. Flights over our territory are only natural. The jets were not used in anti-guerrilla operations. The contract said that they would not be used in operations in East Timor. We haven't done this," Gen Wiranto said after a handover ceremony for the navy chief of staff at the navy base in Surabaya, Friday (23rd July). Back to July Menu |