[DageDage]

SINGAPORE: Demonstrators gathered outside the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta on Tuesday (Aug 23) as it was opening its doors for people to sign a condolence book for Singapore's late former President S R Nathan.

In a post on Facebook, the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta wrote that a group of demonstrators from Pemuda Panca Marga (PPM), a pro-military organisation, had gathered at the embassy to protest the "alleged mistreatment" of retired Indonesian army general Suryo Prabowo at Changi Airport on Aug 17.

Mr Suryo was stopped by officers at Singapore's Changi Airport last Wednesday as part of "screening procedures for border security", according to a statement by the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA). The statement said that he was interviewed by checkpoint officers for 30 minutes, and was allowed to board his flight after the interview.

According to Indonesian media, Mr Suryo complained on social media about being "blacklisted" while in transit at Changi Airport after arriving from Fiji.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief General Gatot Nurmantyo lodged a note of protest with the Singapore defence attache in Indonesia over the incident, according to Antara News. "We have written to the Foreign Ministry to lodge a note of protest with Singapore. Who knows, I may be blacklisted in Singapore anytime in the future," he told Anatara.

Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir told The Jakarta Post that a similar name might have caused the delay. "Immigration has said that it was a routine inquiry by immigration authorities due to the common name," Ms Arrmanatha said.

Said the Singapore Embassy in Jakarta: "Despite the demonstration outside, the signing of the condolence book proceeded uninterrupted inside the embassy. 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."

It added: "This was a suitable moment to recall what Mr S R Nathan had once said about the qualities needed to be a successful Foreign Service Officer of Singapore: patience, calmness, modesty, empathy and good humour. More importantly, he had also reminded us that Singapore Foreign Service Officers must have patriotism and a sense of mission; integrity and honesty; and the ability to carry on with our work, even under pressure. Timeless advice."