Small protest
at Singapore embassy in Jakarta
JAKARTA — Just as the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta opened its
doors on Tuesday (Aug 23) for well-wishers to sign a condolence
book after Mr SR Nathan’s passing, a small protest was held over
the alleged mistreatment of a retired Indonesian senior general in
Changi Airport.
Demonstrators from Pemuda Panca Marga (PPM), an organisation
linked to the military, showed up to protest the alleged
mistreatment of Lieutenant General (retired) Suryo Prabowo at
Singapore’s airport last week, the Singapore embassy wrote on its
Facebook page.
It is believed that around 30 people participated in the
protest, though the embassy did not give a figure.
The embassy added that the demonstration proceeded outside
without interrupting the signing of the condolence book inside. “We
would like to extend our thanks to the Jakarta police for ensuring
law and order, as well as the safety of the Embassy during this
period,” it said.
Mr Prabowo had arrived in Singapore on August 17 from Fiji on a
Fiji Airways plane when he was denied entry to Singapore while he
was transiting through Changi Airport. He was interviewed by
checkpoint officers, a practice in accordance with screening
procedures for border security, the Immigration and Checkpoints
Authority (ICA) said in a statement Saturday.
“After completing the interview, he was allowed to board his
flight,” the ICA statement continued.
“As part of the immigration clearance process, travellers to
Singapore may be subjected to additional interview and/or
screening. These procedures are conducted at all of Singapore’s
checkpoints,” ICA added.
The incident reverberated to Jakarta. Indonesian media reported
that the Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief, General Gatot Nurmantyo,
wrote a note to Singapore to protest the treatment of Mr
Prabowo.
Some even suggested that Mr Prabowo has been blacklisted by
Singaporean authorities.
However, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha
Nasir later clarified that Mr Prabowo has not been blacklisted,
adding that a similar name may have been the cause behind the
unexpected delay. The spokesperson also gave no indication that the
Indonesian Foreign Ministry would file a note of protest.
In its Facebook post on Tuesday, the Singapore Embassy in
Jakarta took the opportunity to recount one of Mr Nathan’s sayings
in relation to the incident.“This was a suitable moment to recall
what Mr S R Nathan had once said about the qualities needed to be a
successful Foreign Service Officer of Singapore: patience,
calmness, modesty, empathy and good humour,” it said.
“More importantly, he had also reminded us that Singapore
Foreign Service Officers must have patriotism and a sense of
mission; integrity and honesty; and the ability to carry on with
our work, even under pressure. Timeless advice.”
-- AGENCIES