Robert Go, Jakarta – Yet another jet saga is brewing in Jakarta with senior officials and military brass demanding explanations, and possibly apologies, from Washington.
The problem: five American F-18 jets are said to have inappropriately breached Indonesian airspace over the Java Sea last Thursday.
The furore arising from US warplane manoeuvres underscores Jakarta's sensitivity and concern towards America's show of military might and the extent to which anti-American sentiment has taken hold among Indonesians.
Yesterday, Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said: "If the US breached our territory, we will send a protest note – so the Americans respect our sovereignty." General Endriartono Sutarto, Armed Forces commander, told reporters he had submitted complete dossiers concerning last Thursday's incident to the government.
Vice-President Hamzah Haz said the US should avoid such an incident in future as it would "elicit responses" from the Indonesian people.
Local media over the weekend highlighted the story of how the five American F-18 Hornets were discovered as they flew over Bawean Island, directly north of Surabaya and Madura Island in East Java.
The US Embassy in Jakarta said the warplanes were escorting an aircraft carrier, two frigates and a tanker. An embassy spokesman said the US military had informed Indonesia of the convoy's movements within its waters.
But front-page headlines in major Indonesian papers had other stories to tell, such as: "Manoeuvre American planes provocative", "Americans refuse to be blamed" and "Indonesian and American jets almost clashed". The Indo Pos newspaper carried a page one picture on Sunday of the Indonesian pilots who flew the American-built F-16 fighter planes that intercepted the US jets last week.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa told The Straits Times yesterday that his office was compiling information on the incident. He declined to say whether Jakarta would lodge a formal protest.
"What is clear is that there were no hostilities expressed by both sides during the encounter itself, and that we are still seeking clarification on this issue. We will express ourselves once we have that information," he said.
Indonesian Member of Parliament Alvin Lie said Jakarta's response to some extent showed the level of concern over the Americans' recent aggressive attitude towards other countries.
"We note America's expansionist policies," he said. "First Afghanistan, then Iraq, then Iran. Washington is showing aggressiveness on North Korea and in Africa. Perhaps we worry that Indonesia, with its large Muslim population, could be the next target for American attention."
Analysts doubt the F-18 incident will lead to a major row with Washington but say the Indonesian reaction is very much in line with the growing suspicion in the country about American motives and policies.
Politicians mindful of next year's elections may want to weigh in with tough stances towards the Americans, observers said.