Gatot Nurmantyo Denied Entry to US Might be Politically Driven
23 October 2017 21:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Tubagus Hasanuddin, Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Commission I overseeing defense and foreign affairs, said that General Gatot Nurmantyo’s refusal of entry into the United States might be politically driven ahead of the 2019 Presidential Election.
Despite his skepticism, Tubagus called on the public to avoid further assumptions until the United States Embassy releases a formal explanation regarding the TNI Commander’s refusal of entry, which can be caused by political and administrative errors.
Read: Gov`t Demands Explanations over Gatot`s Denied Entry to US
He agrees with the steps taken by Foreign Affairs Minister Retno L. P Marsudi who sent an official letter of explanation. Hasanuddin urged the public to wait for an official answer and suggested that it would affect future diplomatic relations whether the answer the US provides is relevant or not.
General Gatot Nurmantyo was set to board an Emirates flight bound for Washington DC on Saturday, October 21. An airliner staff from Emirates informed to Gatot that he and his associates will not be able to continue their journey to the US following a travel ban issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
AHMAD FAIZ IBNU SANI
