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Singapore, Indonesia in row over marines dressed as bombers | The Jakarta Post
A fresh diplomatic row has erupted between Singapore and Indonesia over a 1965 bombing in the city-state, after the Indonesian navy dressed two marines as the perpetrators at a defence exhibition.
Singapore is "concerned and disappointed" after the two men appeared at the event in Jakarta this week dressed as Indonesian marines Usman Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun Said, who were executed for the bombing, the foreign ministry said in a statement late Thursday.
A hit with visitors
He added that when the navy designed the booth, they were not aware that Singapore would be attending the conference.
Singapore said a delegation from its armed forces had pulled out of the Jakarta International Defence Dialogue (JIDD) exhibition on Wednesday after learning of the stunt, while diplomats from its embassy in Jakarta have spoken with officials there "to express disappointment".
The two marines had been stationed at the navy's stall at the JIDD dressed in vintage uniforms and purple berets, with "Usman" and "Harun" on their name tags.
Navy spokesman Suropati said the "Usman" and "Harun" models proved to be a hit.
"We gathered up the most beautiful female navy officers for our booth but, unbelievably, visitors were more attracted to Usman and Harun," he said.
"Their faces were not even that handsome but visitors wanted to take pictures with them."
He said the navy had initially wanted to order mannequins made from wood or fiberglass to represent the two marines but a sample of the face was "too feminine".
Indonesia had already outraged Singapore last month by naming a newly refurbished navy frigate "Usman Harun" in honour of the marines. The ship has been banned from Singaporean ports and naval bases.

A fresh diplomatic row has erupted between Singapore and Indonesia over a 1965 bombing in the city-state, after the Indonesian navy dressed two marines as the perpetrators at a defence exhibition.
Singapore is "concerned and disappointed" after the two men appeared at the event in Jakarta this week dressed as Indonesian marines Usman Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun Said, who were executed for the bombing, the foreign ministry said in a statement late Thursday.
A hit with visitors
He added that when the navy designed the booth, they were not aware that Singapore would be attending the conference.
Singapore said a delegation from its armed forces had pulled out of the Jakarta International Defence Dialogue (JIDD) exhibition on Wednesday after learning of the stunt, while diplomats from its embassy in Jakarta have spoken with officials there "to express disappointment".
The two marines had been stationed at the navy's stall at the JIDD dressed in vintage uniforms and purple berets, with "Usman" and "Harun" on their name tags.
Navy spokesman Suropati said the "Usman" and "Harun" models proved to be a hit.
"We gathered up the most beautiful female navy officers for our booth but, unbelievably, visitors were more attracted to Usman and Harun," he said.
"Their faces were not even that handsome but visitors wanted to take pictures with them."
He said the navy had initially wanted to order mannequins made from wood or fiberglass to represent the two marines but a sample of the face was "too feminine".
Indonesia had already outraged Singapore last month by naming a newly refurbished navy frigate "Usman Harun" in honour of the marines. The ship has been banned from Singaporean ports and naval bases.