"The interception was done to conduct a visual identification on the plane which was flying through an Indonesia air corridor. This is an international standard procedure to be carried out on all suspicious planes passing through a country`s air spac
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The National Defense Forces (TNI) Headquarters said the incident in which two TNI jet fighters intercepted an aircraft carrying PNG Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah has been settled.

"It was not a near-collision but our Sukhoi jets intercepted the PNG deputy prime minister`s plane to do a visual identification," TNI spokesman Rear Admiral Iskandar Sitompul said here on Friday.

He said on November 29, 2011 at 9.57 a.m Western Indonesia Time (WIB), two Indonesian Air Force Sukhoi jet fighters intercepted a PNG Falcon 900 aircraft which was passing through Indonesian air space from Kuala Lumpur on its way to Port Moresby.

"The interception was done to conduct a visual identification on the plane which was flying through an Indonesia air corridor. This is an international standard procedure to be carried out on all suspicious planes passing through a country`s air space," the TNI spokesman said.

Iskandar said after the visual identification, it was learned that the flight clearance from the ministry of transportation and other relevant agencies was received late by the TNI.

"But the problem has now been settled by the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs," he added.

Earlier, an Australian radio reported that an Indonesian military plane and an aircraft carrying the PNG deputy prime minister almost collided.

Responding to the report, PNG Prime minister Peter O`Neil, threatened to expel the Indonesian Ambassador Andreas Sitepu.

There were allegations the Indonesian military was spying on the PNG government officials.

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

"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 spoken to the Indonesian 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
Copyright © ANTARA 2012