Indonesia Defence Forum

[Dayax]

Reuters Thu Oct 6, 2016, Indonesian warplanes on Thursday staged a large-scale exercise on the edge of South China Sea territory claimed by Beijing, a show of force that adds to regional uncertainty sparked by the Philippines' sudden tilt away from the United States.

President Joko Widodo watched from Ranai, capital of the Natuna Islands archipelago, with hundreds of military officials as about 70 jets carried out manoeuvres that included a dog fight and dropping bombs on targets off the coast.

"The president has a policy that all the outer islands that are strategic will be strengthened, be it air, maritime or land," Gatot Nurmantyo, commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, told reporters.

"Our country needs to have an umbrella. From corner to corner, we have to safeguard it."

Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi told reporters in Ranai that the exercise was "routine", but it was also Indonesia's biggest so far and follows a move by Widodo in June to hold a cabinet meeting on board a warship off the Natuna islands.

Indonesian officials described Widodo's visit at that time as a strong message to Beijing following a spate of face-offs between Indonesia's navy and Chinese fishing boats in the gas-rich southern end of the South China Sea.

China, while not disputing Indonesia's claims to the Natuna islands, has raised Indonesian anger by saying the two countries had "overlapping claims" to waters close to them, an area Indonesia calls the Natuna Sea.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, through which about $5 trillion worth of trade passes each year. Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims to parts of the sea.

While Indonesia is not part of the dispute over the South China Sea, it objects to China's inclusion of waters around the Natuna Islands within its 'nine-dash line', a demarcation line used by China to show its claims there.

Jakarta has traditionally taken a neutral position on the South China Sea itself, acting as a buffer between China and fellow members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) that have the most at stake, the Philippines and Vietnam.

"The overall strength of ASEAN depends in great part on the willingness of Indonesia to play that role of diplomatic broker ... and that's where I think we're seeing some of this wobbliness," said Euan Graham, director of International Security at the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think-tank.

"A VERY FLUID SITUATION"

Diplomats and analysts say that, even before the Indonesian military exercise, recent events had thrown the status quo around the South China Sea into doubt, with some countries buttressing long-held positions and others moving toward Beijing.

An open war-of-words between Singapore and China, and Vietnam letting two U.S. warships visit its highly-strategic naval base at Cam Ranh Bay this week, contrasted with more pro-Beijing moves taken by the Philippines and Malaysia.

"We're facing a very fluid situation right now," said Ian Storey, a South China Sea expert at Singapore's ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute.


"We can see some countries taking actions that effectively reveal their consistent positions and others are being much more deferential to China, rolling over and waiting for a tummy rub from Beijing."

Storey and other analysts said the hostility toward the United States from new Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, and his questioning of the decades-old security alliance between Manila and Washington, would fuel uncertainty long-term.

The potential for a much closer security relationship between China and Russia, which recently staged their first joint exercises in the South China Sea, was another driver.

"Make no mistake, if Duterte follows through on his rhetoric it has the potential to shift the overall dynamics of not just the South China Sea issue, but broader strategic assumptions across Southeast Asia," he said.

Zhang Baohui, a mainland security expert at Hong Kong's Lingnan University, said China may be swift to exploit a tilt away from Washington by Duterte.

"Some Chinese elites are seeing this as a God-sent gift to China," Zhang said. "This represents a huge potential shift."

(Additional reporting by Greg Torode in HONG KONG and Lincoln Feast in SYDNEY; Writing by John Chalmers; Editing by Alex Richardson)

 

[mandala]

Indonesian Air Force F-16C & F-16D - Angkasa Yudha Exercise 2016. Credit to Muhammad Alifandi Aryoseno.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLS1TWwDS0C/

 

[Marhaenisme]

Angkasa Yudha 2016

Photo From Reuters

Indonesias president Joko Widodo disscus with TNI commander general Gatot Nurmantyo.

Indonesias PASKHAS paratrooper forces

Indonesias PASKHAS paratrooper forces

Indonesia air force F-16 52ID

Indonesia air force F-16 realese flare in dogfigth action

 

[mandala]

RBS-70. Credit to original uploader.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLShkc4juEq/

 

[Marhaenisme]

Review : Angkasa Yudha 2016

Review : Armada Jaya 2016

 

[katarabhumi]

CONNIE R. BAKRIE SUGGEST THE NAME OF INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES TO REVERT BACK TO ABRI

Sabtu, 08 Oktober 2016 | 05:55

Jakarta - Pengamat militer Connie Rahakundini mengusulkan agar nama ABRI (Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia) kembali digunakan menggantikan TNI (Tentara Nasional Indonesia). Pasalnya, nama ABRI jauh lebih “garang” dibanding TNI.

Hal itu diungkapkan Connie saat menjadi pembicara dalam diskusi bulanan Aliansi Kebangsaan bertajuk "Menyegarkan Kembali Komitmen Ideologi Pancasila sebagai Nilai Kejuangan di Lingkungan TNI" di Jakarta, Jumat (7/10).

“Nama TNI seolah-olah urusan dia hanya nasional. Lingkupnya kecil. Tapi kalau ABRI, yang dibawa adalah Republik Indonesia. Sama seperti kepolisian disebut Polri sehingga mereka bisa bekerja sama dengan negara mana pun dan terima dana dari mana-mana,” ujarnya.

Pada bagian lain Connie berharap, agar anggaran untuk TNI terus ditingkatkan sehingga kemampuan TNI juga terus ditingkatkan guna menjaga keutuhan Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia terutama menghadapi ancaman dari luar. Kekuatan bersenjata tidak bisa dibangun dengan anggaran yang minim. Sebab dengan begitu, TNI Indonesia tidak bisa bersaing dengan ekspansi kekuatan dari Amerika Serikat dan Tiongkok. Apalagi Indonesia, kata dia, memiliki potensi yang sangat besar untuk menjadi negara kuat seperti Amerika Serikat dan Tiongkok.

Sehubungan dengan ini, ia menyindir perbedaan anggaran untuk Polri yang langsung berada di bawah Presiden dengan TNI yang berada di bawah Kementerian Pertahanan. “Setiap kali melewati Semanggi, kita tunggu saja apa yang dibangun lebih tinggi lagi,” ucapnya.

Menurutnya, anggaran yang cukup akan menjadikan TNI itu betul-betul profesional dan ditakuti dunia luar. Sebab dengan dana yang ada, mereka bisa memodernisasi sistem persenjataannya. “Tentara disuruh tarik ke barak, tapi kalau ditarik, dikasih mainan juga dong. Kalau Angkatan Laut dikasih kapal perang, Angkatan Udara diberi pesawat tempur, dan Angkatan Darat diberikan senjata yang modern. Saya keliling ke daerah perbatasan untuk melihat kondisi tentara kita. Mereka latihan perang hanya pakai suara dar der dor, kok,” pungkasnya.

http://beritasatu.com/politik/391330-nama-tni-diusulkan-kembali-ke-abri.html

 

[papacita]

Armada Jaya 2016 exercise documentation by CNN Indonesia

 

[anas_nurhafidz]

Caesar

@ekosoetanto

 

[initial_d]

Maaf kl sedikit kasar, Connie Rahakundini tuh kebanyakan makan kecubung, pake nama segala diurusin, ga ada lg apa bahan buat eksis!!
and yes, i know she probably read this gkgkgk

 

[mengkom]

Maaf kl sedikit kasar, Connie Rahakundini tuh kebanyakan makan kecubung, pake nama segala diurusin, ga ada lg apa bahan buat eksis!!
and yes, i know she probably read this gkgkgk

Has she even considered how much money will be spent just to change TNI name back to "ABRI"?
Every badge in uniform, every name sign in military bases will have to changed
Besides, it is only based on subjective thought..she tought ABRI is "meaner" than "TNI"
What a joke

 

[Marhaenisme]

Has she even considered how much money will be spent just to change TNI name back to "ABRI"?
Every badge in uniform, every name sign in military bases will have to changed
Besides, it is only based on subjective thought..she tought ABRI is "meaner" than "TNI"
What a joke

Maaf kl sedikit kasar, Connie Rahakundini tuh kebanyakan makan kecubung, pake nama segala diurusin, ga ada lg apa bahan buat eksis!!
and yes, i know she probably read this gkgkgk

Please use english bro... just ignore her, many thinks what she say is bullshit like troller. she just lucky can related to the palace and still exist until now as a dumb military observer!

 

[Su-35SM3 Flanker-N]

National is derived from the word nation, it's about a collective of people with similar characteristics. In the case with Indonesia, is a conglomeration of former colonies of Netherlands East Indies in SEA. It's an all-encompassing and more general definition, which is actually broader than "Republic Indonesia", which is a more specific term that describes that form of the government.

 

[MacanJawa]

dude how about su 35 conract? any new news?

 

[Marhaenisme]

Commander of squadron 16 Pekanbaru Riau, first marshal Hendri Alfiandi threatened he will muster Paskhas and helicopters to cope Forest Squatters and illegal logger in Riau.

Marsma Henri Alfiandi, usai patroli udara, Sabtu siang (Foto: Chairul Hadi/GoRiau)

PEKANBARU - Masih adanya aktivitas perambahan hutan di Provinsi Riau yang berbuntut pada pembakaran lahan, membuat Marsekal Pertama (Marsma) Henri Alfiandi kesal. Ia pun mengancam akan mengerahkan prajurit Paskhas (Pasukan Khas) dan helikopter tempur buat memburu mereka.

Jenderal bintang satu TNI-AU yang juga menjabat sebagai Komandan Pangkalan Udara Lanud Roesmin Nurjadin Pekanbaru ini memastikan bahwa aktivitas perambahan tersebut masih berlangsung, bahkan sempat terdeteksi prajuritnya saat melakukan patroli via udara.

Henri berencana akan menerjunkan prajuritnya untuk 'menghajar' mereka, seperti yang pernah dilakukan di kawasan Taman Nasional Tesso Nilo (TNTN), Kabupaten Pelalawan. Kala itu Paskhas yang dikerahkan dengan helikopter beberapa kali sukses membuat pelaku kocar-kacir.

"Kita sudah koordinasi, termasuk dengan Korem juga. Mereka sudah aksi juga. Nah nanti kalau tidak ada efek jera, kita yang beraksi. Kita turunkan Paskhas (Pasukan Khas, red), tunggu saja," ungkap Henri kepada GoRiau (GoNews Group), Sabtu (8/10/2016) sore, di Pekanbaru.

Pihaknya berencana akan melakukan evaluasi terkait ini, sekaligus melakukan pemetaan di wilayah-wilayah yang ditenggarai terjadi perambahan hutan dan lahan secara ilegal. "Kita evaluasi dulu baru lakukan aksi, pakai helikopter sekalian," pertegas Danlanud.

Sabtu siang tadi, Henri dan beberapa pilot pesawat tempur F-16 Fighting Falcon bahkan sempat melakukan pemantauan dari udara dan berputar di atas langit Riau. Hasilnya, ditemukan kebakaran lahan di bagian selatan Kota Pekanbaru, Provinsi Riau.

"Ya, tadi kita sempat pantau kebakaran lahan, itu masih ada, kayaknya di bagian Selatan, sekitar lima kilometer (via udara, red) dari Kota Pekanbaru. Itu mungkin di daerah Teratak Buluh. Sedih kita, itu di atas kebanyakn haze atau asap," singkatnya.

Sebelumnya, Brigjen Zulkarnain Adinegara yang baru menjabat sebagai Kapolda Riau juga sempat menyinggung soal berlangsungnya kegiatan perambahan tersebut. Dia pun meminta jajarannya untuk mengambil upaya tegas, termasuk menangkap para toke.

"Enak banget tokenya kalau yang ditangkap cuma bawahannya. Saya sudah minta Kapolres buat nangkap toke itu. Kalau ada yang menghalang-halangi, tangkap! Saya paham dengan masyarakat kecil, itu mereka cuma disuruh. Makanya kita imbau jangan mau (disuruh, red)," kata Zulkarnain. ***

Yeah i like your style Mr General

 

[katarabhumi]

INDONESIA MOVES CLOSER TO RATIFYING MARITIME BORDER TREATY WITH SINGAPORE

ChannelNewsAsia, Oct 7 2016

JAKARTA: Indonesian lawmakers are in the final stages of ratifying a treaty demarcating the maritime boundaries in the eastern stretch of the Singapore Strait.

The two neighbours signed the agreement during former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's visit to Singapore in 2014. The agreement defines the boundary spanning about 9.4km between Singapore’s Changi and the Indonesian island of Batam.

“The mood among the lawmakers is very positive - they are eager to ratify this before we have our recess period at the end of this month," said Hanafi Rais, chairman of Commission I, which oversees defence and foreign affairs.

This is the third maritime boundary treaty between Singapore and Indonesia along the Singapore Strait. In 1973, both countries agreed on the maritime boundary along the central part of the waterway. In 2009, an agreement on boundaries in the western section between Sultan Shoal and Pulau Nipa was reached.

Hanafi, who is from the National Mandate Party, had supported the immediate ratification of the sea border agreement so that other pressing matters can be addressed, such as ratifying the agreement on an exclusive economic zone with the Philippines.

Even though Indonesian lawmakers have been giving positive signs that the 2014 agreement could be ratified soon, Hanafi stressed this should be done "in parallel and on equal footing”.

He added that parliamentarians want the government to ensure the agreement is implemented well.

"We want the government to ensure there has to be immediate talks with the Singapore government to transform this agreement into a more concrete protocol, to implement this on the ground," said Hanafi.

He added: “Because if we have ratified the sea border agreement then there are a lot of things we have to consider between the two countries - regarding sea lanes, regarding the business aspect of sea transportation.”

‘A CLEARLY MARKED BOUNDARY’

Arrmanatha Nasir, spokesman for Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry, said ratification would cement the existing cordial relationship between the neighbours.

"We hope this ratification can be done smoothly and that this process can continue to enhance the good bilateral ties between the two countries," he said during a weekly media briefing on Thursday (Oct 6).

The Indonesian government is also keen to conclude the treaty to ensure a clear legal basis in maritime affairs. “We will now have a clearly marked territorial sea boundary with Singapore," said Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Director General for Legal Affairs and International Treaties, Ferry Adamhar, in the Jakarta Post.

Also cited in the Jakarta Post was former diplomat Hasjim Djalal, who added: "The agreement will clearly indicate areas belonging to each respective country, allowing full implementation of sovereignty over their areas."

SINGAPORE WELCOMES MOVES TO SECURE RATIFICATION: MFA

Singapore on Friday welcomed news that the Indonesian parliament is considering the ratification.

"Singapore is undertaking the necessary domestic preparations and are prepared to exchange the instruments of ratification once Indonesia is ready to do so," said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in response to queries from Channel NewsAsia.

MFA added that the treaty demonstrates the ability of both countries to work together in areas of mutual interest and underscores an excellent working relationship.

Political analysts also welcomed the encouraging development on the sea border agreement between Singapore and Indonesia.

"It is good for bilateral ties - good fences make good neighbours,” said Bilveer Singh, Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Centre of Excellence for National Security, S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

Dr Singh added that resolving the eastern maritime border with Indonesia would be a "wonderful signal" as Singapore and Malaysia have yet to open talks on delimiting maritime boundaries around Pedra Branca, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.

Once the eastern boundary demarcation of the Singapore Strait is settled, only the boundary between Pedra Branca and the Indonesian island of Bintan remains to be demarcated.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...ying-maritime-border-treaty-with/3187408.html