United States deputy ambassador for Indonesia Erin Elizabeth McKee (left) answering questions from reporters after meeting Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi at the Foreign Ministry office in Jakarta on Monday (Oct. 23). During the meeting, Erin issued a US apology over the incident in which Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo was denied entry to the U.S.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Indonesian government has demanded Washington to clarify the reason behind barring Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo from entering the United States. Indonesia appreciated the US’s good intention to immediately lift the ban, but this was not enough.
Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi stressed in Jakarta on Monday (23/10) that her office still required an explanation for the incident. The Foreign Minister stated her strict stance after meeting with US Deputy Ambassador to Indonesia Erin Elizabeth McKee, who Retno had invited to explain what had happened.
"For us, this issue is very important. Therefore we directly call on the US to give an immediate explanation," said Retno.
She reiterated her stance after meeting with President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo at the Presidential Palace. On that occasion, Retno said her office had received an explanation from the US representative in Jakarta. However, this did not mean the government would require no further explanation. "I disclose here that we are continuing to ask for a clarification, an explanation, as to why this happened. I have told them that we are waiting," Retno said.
Apology
When contacted after meeting with Retno, McKee apologized for the incident, as US Ambassador to Indonesia Joseph Donovan, who is currently in Banda, Maluku, had also done had. ”We are very sorry for the inconvenience. We apologize,” said McKee.
McKee explained that the ban had been revoked and Gen. Gatot could travel freely to the US without any hinderance. McKee added that her office was also facilitating communication between Gatot and US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. ”We will gladly welcome him,” McKee said.
In Manila, the Philippines, US Defense Minister James Mattis apologized to his Indonesian counterpart, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, in connection with the incident. Mattis delivered the apology to Ryamizard in a special US-RI bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ongoing ASEAN Plus Defense Ministerial Forum in Manila.
Ban lifted several hours later
As was reported earlier, when he was about to depart for Washington, DC on Saturday at Dunford\'s invitation, an Emirates airline staff at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang told Gatot that the US Customs and Border Protection had denied him permission to enter US territory. The commander reported the ban to President Jokowi, Coordinating Politics, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto and Foreign Minister Retno. Several hours later, following communication among relevant parties in Jakarta and the US, the ban was lifted.
International Relations lecturer Edy Prasetyono at the University of Indonesia’s School of Social and Political Sciences supported the government\'s stance in demanding clarification from the US. He said the procedure was normal in diplomacy.
He hoped a country as big and as advanced as the US would be able to settle the internal coordination issue, adding that the US should immediately provide an explanation to the Indonesian government whenever there was a problem.
An earlier explanation would have helped both sides. "Don\'t [do something] all of a sudden and shock many parties," said Edy.
House of Representatives Commission I deputy chairman Meutya Hafid of the Golkar Party faction also support the government\'s stance. She said there should be a comprehensive, official statement from the US foreign ministry. This was critical so as to prevent any speculation and to maintain good relations between two countries.
Former coordinating minister for the economy and former Bank Indonesia governor Burhanuddin Abdullah was once denied entry when he was about to visit the US in May 2016. He was interrogated and said he was asked a number of questions that made no sense.
”For example, [I was asked] whether I would ask for political asylum. Whether I would look for a job, even though I was 70 years old. I said that I used to work for years in the US with the IMF," said Burhanuddin.
However, the answers he gave did not help. He was still refused entry and Burhanuddin never learned what was the reason for his rejection.
Meanwhile, through its public relations consultant in Indonesia, Emirates airline said it did not have the authority to discuss a passenger’s individual case for confidential reasons. It added that Emirates also had no authority whatsoever on any government’s decisions in connection with visa and immigration requirements.
