SG conflict with Indo - navy ship name & air space

[Darthrevan]

Osman Haji Mohammed Ali, 25, and Harun Said, alias Tahir, 21, (third and fourth from left) were charged with having "knowingly caused" the deaths of three persons when a bomb exploded on the landing of the mezzanine floor of MacDonald House on March 10, 1965.

 

Singapore concerned over naming of Indonesian navy ship after executed commandos

Singapore has registered its concerns over Indonesia’s naming of a navy ship after two Indonesian marines who took part in the 1965 bombing of MacDonald House on Orchard Road.

Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) spokesman said on Wednesday night that Foreign Minister K Shanmugam spoke to his Indonesian counterpart, Dr Marty Natalegawa, to register these concerns “and the impact this would have on the feelings of Singaporeans, especially the families of the victims”.

Indonesia’s Kompas daily had reported this week that the last of the Indonesian Navy’s three new British-made frigates would be named the KRI Usman Harun, after marines Osman Haji Mohamed Ali and Harun Said.

“The two Indonesian marines were found guilty of the bombing which killed three people and injured 33 others,” the MFA spokeman said in response to media queries.

“Singapore had considered this difficult chapter in the bilateral relationship closed in May 1973 when then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew visited and scattered flowers on the graves of the two marines,” he added.

The duo were members of Indonesia’s special Operations Corps Command, which is today the Marine Corps, and had been ordered to infiltrate Singapore during Indonesia’s Confrontation with Malaysia.

Then-president Sukarno had opposed the formation of Malaysia, which Singapore was part of from September 1963 to August 1965, as a puppet state of the British.

Both marines were convicted and executed in Singapore in 1968 for the March 10, 1965 bombing of MacDonald House, which stands near where Dhoby Ghaut MRT station is today.

Their hanging saw some 400 agitated students in Jakarta ransack the Singapore embassy, attack the consul’s residence and burn the Singapore flag, and bilateral ties remained tense for several years.

The marines were welcomed home as heroes, and given a ceremonial funeral at the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery in South Jakarta.

Relations between Singapore and Indonesia were restored when Mr Lee Kuan Yew visited Jakarta in 1973, and sprinkled flowers on the marines’ graves.

Former Singapore ambassador to Indonesia Lee Khoon Choy had earlier recounted that the gesture, which the Javanese believe propitiates the souls of the dead, moved the hosts deeply because it demonstrated that Singapore was sensitive to Javanese culture.

But in recent years, efforts to commemorate both marines – alongside other declared heroes – have resurfaced, and last year(2013), the Marine Corps proposed to rename Jalan Prapatan in Central Jakarta, where the unit’s headquarters are, as Jalan Usman Harun. The Navy said two other new ships it would take charge of would be named after Indonesian independence heroes Bung Tomo and John Lie. The first, KRI Bung Tomo, will set sail from Britain in June 2014.

Bung Tomo led the popular resistance against Allied British and Dutch forces in the Battle of Surabaya in November 1945, while John Lie smuggled agricultural produce to buy and smuggle arms from Malaya for the fledgling Indonesian armed forces from 1945 to 1949.

Kompas cited Indonesia’s Navy chief, Admiral Marsetio, as saying that the three ships would be named after these men “in remembering the services they had rendered to the Indonesian nation”.

Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/singapore-registers-concerns-over-indonesian-navy-ship-20140206

[Picnic06-Biante15]

What can we do .....

 

We had been sending all kinds of papers to them and always left in their in-tray untouch ...

 

If they ever have open & read our papers, we won't be having haze situation cos they start burning their forest as early as last week ...

[Chickenfarm]

What can we do .....

 

We had been sending all kinds of papers to them and always left in their in-tray untouch ...

 

If they ever have open & read our papers, we won't be having haze situation cos they start burning their forest as early as last week ...

 

Name can change...just pass them the big envelope

[Zxcvb]

 

fast forward to 7:30mins for story about Indonesia Konfrontasi.

[Hiphiphoray]

LOL.....reminds me of the Haza saga.

 

That time duno why for weeks nothing can be done about the fresh air.

 

When our whiteties went over.....suddenly almost instaneously birds begin to appear in the skies..........LOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL.

 

 

Name can change...just pass them the big envelope

 

[Albeniz]

Such a coincidence for the naming to take place at this time of the year.

 

Hurry! We have until 14 Feb 2014 to send them a big Hongbao before the Lunar New Year ends.

 

[Hotamp]

actually, i dont see the issue....a name is just a name....history is history....seriously i dont think the younger population will actually remember the incident let alone the names of the commandos.....just let it be loh...why is there to bring back old stories???? now everyone will add pepper and salt to stir things up again.

[Vulcann]

Can understand our concerns.

 

Imagine what the reaction will be if the German Navy, Deutsche Marine, were to name their new vessels Heinrich Himmler or worst Adolf Hitler or the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, the de-facto Japanese Navy, christening their new man-of-wars Tomoyuki Yamashita or Hideki Tojo.

 

But I doubt their navy will change their mind about the names of their vessels.

 

 

 

 

[KumarB]

another solid point why we need a strong SAF in this region with these clowns in the north and south.

[TVT]

I say let them name their ships whatever they want.....none of our business.

 

Just as we don't want others to meddle with our affairs, we should treat others the same too.

[Donut]

someone is trying to dig dig out the past for both countries to be sour towards each other again.

 

the MacD house bombing is not too long ago, many of us can still rem that.....

[Hotamp]

I say let them name their ships whatever they want.....none of our business.

 

Just as we don't want others to meddle with our affairs, we should treat others the same too.

true...its their freaking frigates...they paid for them...they can name it akak, abang and adik for all i care....if they cross singapore territorial waters RSN will just engage it thats all.....whats there to dig up all these old wounds for??

[Kusje]

another solid point why we need a strong SAF in this region with these clowns in the north and south.

 

You believe a strong SAF can deter a determined opponent from the north or south?

[1fast1]

It doesn't matter what they name them.

 

All that matters is that we can sink them...if needed.

[The_Bear]

It doesn't matter what they name them.

 

All that matters is that we can sink them...if needed.

True. We should name our next 3 amphibious support ships "HaHa" "LoL" & "Karma".

[Scion]

actually, i dont see the issue....a name is just a name....history is history....seriously i dont think the younger population will actually remember the incident let alone the names of the commandos.....just let it be loh...why is there to bring back old stories???? now everyone will add pepper and salt to stir things up again.

 

you dun see the issue because you and your family are not affected

 

but what about the families and descendants of the victims that were killed and badly injured in the blast?

 

be sensitive about it

 

there's a reason why history and past lessons must not be forgotten

[The_Bear]

 

You believe a strong SAF can deter a determined opponent from the north or south?

You said it yourself. Keyword "Determined". Not-going-to-happen-soon.

[Jokerd]

Should have gone after the guy who ordered the bomb instead of hanging the small fry...