REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The Indonesian Air Forces Jupiter Aerobatic team will perform at the Singapore Air Show on Tuesday, despite tension between the two countries regarding the naming of the Indonesian Navy's ship, KRI Usman Harun.

This was an announcement made by Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro  on Monday. "The Jupiter Aerobatic team is already in Singapore and is currently training for the Singapore Air Show."

However, he confirmed that a delegation of high-ranking Indonesian officials comprising Military Chief General Moeldoko, Vice Defense Minister Lieutenant General Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, Chief of Indonesian Air Force Marshal Ida Bagus Putu Dunia, and Chief of Indonesian Army Lieutenant General Budiman would not attend the Singapore Air Show. Purnomo also confirmed that Singapore had cancelled its invitation to 100 Indonesian military personnel to attend the Singapore Air Show.

"We will not make this issue a complicated one. If they (Singapore) cancels the invitation, then we cancel the visit. It is as simple as that," Yusgiantoro emphasized.

According to him, the naming of the Indonesian Navy ship, KRI Usman Harun, was already final and had been through the requisite procedures. "It is the right of Indonesia," he remarked.

When questioned on whether the row with Singapore had the potential to harm other military cooperation with Singapore, Minister Yusgiantoro replied that it would not affect cooperation in other areas that Indonesia and Singapore had been conducting since the past few years.

"So far, Singapore has only voiced its concerns regarding the naming of the Indonesian navy ship. Indonesia and Singapore have their own perspectives regarding this issue. But, Indonesia has a strong reason why it chose to name its ship as KRI Usman Harun," Yusgiantoro claimed.

Earlier, spokesman to Indonesian Navy First Marshall Untung Suropati stated that the naming of the Indonesian Navys newest ship, Usman Harun, had been through the requisite procedures.

"We have named the ship after two Indonesian national heroes," Untung added.

Earlier, the Singapore government had raised concerns over Indonesia naming its navy ship after two Indonesian marines who took part in the 1965 bombing of the MacDonald House on Orchard Road during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation era.

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