REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia has sent a diplomatic note to the US to clarify Gatot Nurmantyo and his delegation" href="http://en.republika.co.id/berita/en/national-politics/17/10/23/oy8xzf414-us-refuses-tni-chief-to-enter-its-territory" target="_blank">its entry ban on National Defense Forces (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo and his delegation.

The Indonesian Embassy in Washington D.C. has sent the diplomatic note to the US Department of State, spokesman for the Indonesian Foreign Ministry Arrmanatha Nasir said in a short message text on Sunday.

In addition, the Foreign Ministry also has sent a diplomatic note to the US Embassy in Jakarta for the same purpose, he said.

"The Indonesian foreign minister has talked with the US ambassador in Jakarta today to clarify it (the entry ban). But because the ambassador was not in Jakarta, (the Foreign Ministry) has summoned the US deputy ambassador to come to the Foreign Ministry tomorrow to give clarification," he said.

Nurmantyo was originally planned to attend Chiefs of Defense Conference on Country Violent Extremist Organization (VEOs) to be held in Washington DC on Oct 23-24 at the invitation of chairman of the joint chiefs of staff General Joseph F. Durford, Jr.

Chief of the TNI Information Center Major General Wuryanto said earlier the TNI chief had received an official invitation from Durford to attend the conference and he had replied the invitation to attend the event.

But because the TNI chief was denied entry to the US he cancelled his plan to visit the country, he said.

Wuryanto said Nurmantyo and entourage including his wife had received visas to travel to the US by Emirates flight on Oct 21.

"But a moment before his departure, he was notified by the airlines that he and his delegation were denied entry to the US by the US Customs and Border Protection," he said.

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