Yuli Tri Suwarni and Andi Hajramurni, Bandung/Makassar – Despite opposition to the Commercial Court's verdict declaring state-owned aircraft company PT Dirgantara Indonesia (PTDI) bankrupt, moves to execute the decision are proceeding.

More than 1,000 employees of the company staged a protest at the company's compound in Bandung, West Java, on Monday, to welcome the arrival of Taufik Nugraha; the curator appointed by the court to count the company's assets and temporarily control them until an appeal from the firm has been processed.

Taufik, of the Nugraha Wibawa and Partners office based in Jakarta, arrived at the company's compound accompanied by an assistant. Taufik declined to make a comment before entering the compound.

On Tuesday, PTDI was declared bankrupt by the Commercial Court on the grounds it was on the verge of demise and had several long-overdue debts, including pension payments amounting to Rp 200 billion (US$22.20 million).

PTDI said it would appeal to the Supreme Court, claiming it was still operating and had orders from overseas that would see it through to at least 2017. "We have come here to present reports to the management regarding our duty," Taufik's unidentified assistant said.

When Taufik held a meeting with members of the company's board of directors, employees unfurled banners which read, among others, "Only stupid people declare PTDI bankrupt" and "Those who declare PTDI bankrupt are the nation's traitors". They also chanted, "Turn down the bankruptcy verdict, Turn down the bankruptcy verdict".

The employees urged their colleagues and management to continue struggling to keep the company afloat. They urged others to carry on with work as usual to provide good service to customers so the company would not suffer penalties.

Frans Iskandar Ralie Siregar, the company's director of finance and administration, said since the issuance of the verdict he no longer had the authority to withdraw money. However, based on an agreement with the curator, the company's operational activities have been allowed to run as usual, but under the curator's supervision.

"The curator has agreed the company should not stop operating, to avoid fines. We will also appeal," Ralie said. "If our appeal is turned down, it will be the end of everything... But surely that will not happen."

Vice President Jusuf Kalla said in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Monday that PTDI would meet all its obligations to its 6,500 former employees later this week, in a move to convince the court to annul its verdict. He said there had been meetings between representatives of the former employees and the company's board of directors.

"I have asked them to settle the issue in Bandung spirit," said Kalla, referring to the spirit of the city in defending the best interests of the nation.