Indonesia has right, says Wenge

By ELLEN TIAMU

INDONESIA has every right to protect its territory and people under international laws, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge says.

He said what transpired between the two Indonesian jet fighters and the executive jet with Deputy Prime Minister Belden Namah and two ministers on board over Indonesian airspace was standard procedure for any country protecting its territory and people under international laws.

The incident happened last Nov 29 when two Indonesian military aircraft were sent to track Air Niugini’s Falcon jet as it was returning home from Malaysia. On board were Namah, Minister for Police John Boito, National Planning Minister Sam Basil, two Malaysian businessmen and a lawyer, the two pilots and a flight attendant.

Wenge said Indonesia had many bilateral treaties with Papua New Guinea and under international law and United Nations resolutions, "it has a right to check on aircraft flying through its airspace".

He said he was not insinuating that large sums of money were on board the executive jet but
that many countries around the world "are concerned about the growing threat of terrorism with huge sums of money being moved from country to country to buy arms".

Wenge said the Indonesian president last year assured Australia that Indonesia would defend itself against any terrorism attack and the blanket assurance covered PNG as well.

He said national leaders were regional as well as international leaders and should speak on bilateral matters in a way that would safeguard the interests of both countries.

A former defence and commercial pilot said yesterday international transit flights through other countries were allowed with agreements to pay fees to the countries through which the flight path would take.

He said once flight plans and information had been established, "clearance is conducted on the ground before
the aircraft takes to the air".

He defended the VIP flight, saying it had valid clearance.