TNI chief suggests govt renegotiate NAMRU-2

"National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Gen Djoko Santoso has suggested that the Indonesian government renegotiate its cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research Unit-2 (NAMRU-2).Speaking to the press after attending a function marking the swearing-in of constitutional...

TNI chief says more equal terms needed in cooperation with Namru 2

"Indonesian National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Gen Djoko Santoso said the US Navy`s medical research laboratory Namru-2 should be allowed to continue operating in Indonesia only if the terms in the relevant agreement were made more equal for the two countries. Speaking at a...

Preparations for joint exercises 90% completed : mily chief

""I hope the preparations will reach 100 percent in a week," he said on Thursday.The three forces had completed verification and certification processes for their respective main armaments to be used in the joint exercises code-named "Yudha Siaga", he said."Each of the three...

E Timor wishes to participate in Asean mily exercises

"Visiting East Timorese Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao has expressed his country`s wish to participate in the joint military exercises of Indonesia and other ASEAN member states.In the first phase of its participation, East Timor would take part in the joint military exercises...

TNI not to support retired generals` wish to contest in polls

"Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Army Chief of Staff Gen Agustadi Sasongko Purnomo said the Indonesian military (TNI) will never support retired generals` wish to contest in gubernatorial, district head and presidential polls."There is no such support. We remain neutral. And none of...

No Indonesian serviceman has any link with Alfredo: army chief

""None of them had any contact with him. Indonensian army members (in East Nusatenggara bordering Timor Leste) only have the duty to guard the border and they are not allowed to enter the neighboring country," the army chief said at a gathering with retired army officers here...

News Focus -- Indonesian air force to replace aging planes

"The air force`s plan is made amid tight budget for military spending. The Defense Ministry has decided to prioritize the maintenance of Indonesia`s military main armament following the government`s decision to cut 15 percent of the defense ministry`s budget. "We give...

Indonesia sends personnel to join UN peace mission exercise in Bangladesh

"Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia on Sunday sent 40 military personnel to join a UN peacekeeping force exercise in Bangladesh.The exercise code-named "Shanti Doot-2" was opened by Bangladeshi Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshal Zia Rahman at the Bangladesh Institute of...

TNI has nothing to do with Talangsari incident : commander

"Jakarta (ANTARA News) - National Defense Forces (TNI) Commander Gen Djoko Santoso said the TNI as an institution had nothing to do with the Talangsari incident in 1989 as the servicemen involved in it were now all retired and thus no longer TNI members."They are retired...

TNI to prepare 90 personnel to join Unifil

""The military chief will of course discuss the matter with President Yudhoyono shortly after he has returned from his overseas trip," Head of the TNI Headquarters` Information Service Rear Marshal Sagom Tamboen said on Saturday.Yudhoyono is currently visiting South Africa as...

Military to continue using aging but still serviceable armaments: minister

"Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Aging but still usable arms and equipment will continue to be utilized to support the National Defense Forces (TNI) in the performance of its duties, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said here on Thursday."Some of the aging armaments are no longer...

Mily command on guard against Kastari`s possible entry into Central Java

Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - The rank and file of the Diponegoro Military Command remain on guard against the possibility of fugitive Jamaah Islamiyah kingpin Mas Slamet Kastari entering Central Java and Yogyakarta, the command`s chief said. "Kastari, a terror suspect who...

TNI says budget cut has no impact on military exercise

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A 15-percent cut in the state budget allocation for the Defense Ministry would have no impact on this year`s Joint Military Exercise (Latgab 2008)."It has no impact whatsoever on the 2008 Joint Military Exercise," chief of the National Defense Forces...

Indonesian mily chief asks Malaysia to be more sensitive

""We appeal to the Malaysian government and people to be more sensitive to issues that may disrupt harmonious relations between Indonesia and Malaysia," he said at a meeting with Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Dato' Zaenal Abidin bin Muhamad Zain at the TNI Headquarters in...