Demonstrators from Pemuda Panca Marga (PPM), an organisation linked to the military, held a small protest against the alleged mistreatment of a retired Indonesian general at Changi Airport last week, outside the Singapore embassy in Jakarta on Tuesday (23 August).
The Singapore Embassy in Jakarta had just opened its doors on Tuesday (23 August) for well-wishers to sign a condolence book after Mr SR Nathan’s passing, when the protesters, about 30 people, came.
In its Facebook post, the embassy said that the demonstration proceeded outside without interrupting the signing of the condolence book inside, and the PPM demonstrators left the embassy area after its representatives handed over a note of protest to a Singapore embassy official.
On 17 August, Mr Prabowo arrived in Singapore from Fiji and was transiting through Changi Airport for his flight back to Jakarta.
Facebook posts by Mr Prabowo and Indonesian media reports claimed he was denied entry to Singapore because he was “blacklisted”.
“As part of the immigration clearance process, travellers to Singapore may be subjected to additional interview and screening. These procedures are conducted at all of Singapore’s checkpoints,” the ICA stated.
Indonesian media reported that the Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief, General Gatot Nurmantyo, wrote a note to Singapore to protest the treatment of Mr Prabowo.
However, Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir later clarified that Mr Prabowo had not been blacklisted, explaining that a similar name may have been the cause behind the interview. Nasir also gave no indication that the Indonesian Foreign Ministry would file a note of protest.
“We would like to extend our thanks to the Jakarta police for ensuring law and order, as well as the safety of the Embassy during this period,” the embassy said.