"No Indonesian military aircraft was in operation on November 29, the date on which the incident allegedly took place," the ministry`s spokesman, Hartind Asrin, said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s Defense Ministry has firmly denied a report that two Indonesian military aircraft almost collided with a jet carrying PNG (Papua New Guinea) senior officials.

"No Indonesian military aircraft was in operation on November 29, the date on which the incident allegedly took place," the ministry`s spokesman, Hartind Asrin, said here on Friday.

A statement to the same effect was issued by Indonesian Air Force spokesman Commodore Azman Yunus. According to data of the Indonesian Air Force`s Operations Center, he said, no military aircraft operated in the eastern part of Indonesia on that particular date.

"None of our radars placed in the eastern part of Indonesia namely at Saumlaki, Biak and Merauke, showed a record of any flight conducted by foreign planes above Indonesian territory on the date mentioned," he added.

Azman said the PNG government must specify the exact position where the incident took place and the type of military aircraft that allegedly almost collided with the jet carrying PNG`s deputy prime minister.

Earlier, Radio Australia News reported the PNG parliament- endorsed prime minister, Peter O`Neil, had threatened to expel the Indonesian ambassador because of an incident in Indonesian airspace last November.

Two Indonesian military aircraft allegedly almost collided with a jet carrying PNG`s deputy prime minister and other senior government officials who were returning from Malaysia.

There were allegations the Indonesian military was tracking the PNG government officials.

O`Neill`s deputy, Belden Namah, said it was an act of aggression and intimidation.

"I am very angry. I demand an explanation; if I do not get it within 48 hours all diplomatic relations between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea will be strained," Namah said.

"I have already spoken to the ambassador and if it means we have to get the ambassador to leave this country and withdraw our ambassador from Jakarta, we will certainly do so," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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