"The interception was done in accordance with the procedure applicable in Indonesia and other countries in the world. It was not meant to harm the jet or the passengers inside," said the minister.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A hitch in the observance of flight clearance procedure led the Indonesian Air Force to intercepting a jet carrying Papua New Guinea`s deputy prime minister last November 2011, a minister said.

"There was a technical problem in the observance of the procedure to clear the flight of the jet," said Foreign Affairs Minister Marty Natalegawa in a press release received here on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the minister met with PNG Ambassador to Indonesia Peter Ilau to clarify the problem.

The minister said the interception happened as data relevant to the clearing of the PNG jet`s flight received by Indonesia`s Air Defense Command`s radar-based electronic identification system was incoherent.

"The interception was done in accordance with the procedure applicable in Indonesia and other countries in the world. It was not meant to harm the jet or the passengers inside," said the minister.

Marty said he had explained the reason behind the interception to the PNG ambassador and the latter had said he would pass on the information to officials in Papua New Guinea.

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 2011.

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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