Jakarta, April 9, 2016 (Antara) - The Indonesian Navy will organize the biennial Multilateral Naval Exercise Komodo (MNEK) 2016 focusing on maritime peacekeeping operations, in Padang and Mentawai Islands, West Sumatra Province, from April 12 to 16, 2016.
"The exercise is unique when compared to other multilateral naval exercises in the region, since it emphasizes on non-warfighting aspects of operational-level exercises," the Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff, Admiral Ade Supandi, said in his remarks posted on the official website of MNEK 2016 (www.komodoexercise.org).
The Second MNEK will be held coinciding with the International Fleet Review (IFR) 2016, and the 15th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS).
"The three major events are significant as these will help in the implementation of the navy's diplomacy role, and contribute to regional peace and security," the admiral said while holding mass prayers along with some two thousand naval officers for safe implementation of the three maritime events.
The first MNEK was organized in 2014 in Batam and the Islands of Anambas and Natuna, and saw the participation of 14 navies from ASEAN member countries and other states.
"The three major events are significant as these will help in the implementation of the navy's diplomacy role, and contribute to regional peace and security," the admiral said while holding mass prayers along with some two thousand naval officers for safe implementation of the three maritime events.
The first MNEK was organized in 2014 in Batam and the Islands of Anambas and Natuna, and saw the participation of 14 navies from ASEAN member countries and other states.
The Komodo Exercise 2014 focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief and Indonesia fielded 4,800 personnel and 27 warships.
This year, warships and sailors from 35 countries such as the United States, Russia, China, and France, along with ASEAN member countries, will participate in the events which will be officially kicked off by President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on April 12.
President Jokowi and representatives of the participating delegations are expected to sign a (monument) Dove of Peace Monument during the inauguration ceremony.
President Jokowi and representatives of the participating delegations are expected to sign a (monument) Dove of Peace Monument during the inauguration ceremony.
Indonesia will field 28 ships for the exercise, in which 22 foreign ships will participate. The foreign participants are expected to arrive in Padang between April 9 and 11.
A number of Indonesian warships have arrived in Teluk Bayur seaport, West Sumatra, for the event.
The warships include KRI Oswald Siahaan, KRI Teuku Umar, Usman Harun, Dewaruci, Slamet Riyadi, Sutanto, Kerapu, Sultan Hasanuddin and Tombak, Commander of the Indonesian Navy's Main Naval Base Command (Danlantamal) II, First Admiral Dindin Kurnadi said in a statement recently.
Of the 28 Indonesian warships, 15 warships are from the Eastern Fleet Command of the Indonesian Navy.
KRI (Indonesian Warship) Frans Kaisiepo-368 followed by other ships departed from Ujung Pier, Surabaya, on April 1, Lt Col Maman Sulaeman, spokesman of the Eastern Fleet Command, said recently.
The other ships joining the annual Sail Indonesia event, are KRI Ahmad Yani-351, KRI Selamet Riyadi (SRI)-352, KRI Yos Sudarso (YOS)-353, and KRI Usman Harun (USH)-359, in addition to KRI Sultan Hasanuddin (SHN)-366, KRI Sultan Iskandar Muda (SIM)-367, KRI Frans Kaisiepo (FKO)-368, and KRI Makassar (MKS)-590. Joining these ships are KRI Tombak (TOK)-629, KRI Sura (SRA)-802, KRI Kakap (KKP)-811, and KRI Arun (ARN)-903, in addition to KRI Soputan (SPT)-923, KRI Sorong (SRG)-911, and KRI Dewarucci (DWR).
KRI Makassar-590 left the Jakarta International Pier Container Terminal (JICT) 2 on March 28 for Padang to join the MNEK 2016.
The exercises will be divided into various stages and feature a range of interactions including port-and-shore activities, maritime exercises, and engineering and rescue ashore.
The other agenda in these events include a beach soccer match, free medical services, a ship tour dubbed "Let's go to the Sea" in which some 500 students are to participate, and a rowing race, in addition to a Tuna Rendang festival, a fun bike event, dance and band performances, cultural dinner, and a medical exercise that will cover among other things medical evacuation drill and disaster victim identification drill. A Multilateral Naval Exercise was an Indonesian idea, and West Sumatra Governor Irwan Prayitno has hoped that the Komodo Exercise will help boost tourism in the province.
"The impact is obvious, and more foreigners will come to know West Sumatra better, including its culture, culinary arts, natural scenery, and its friendly people," he said.
Chefs of foreign warships participating in the Komodo Exercise will be involved in the rendang cooking during the Tuna Rendang Festival to be held along Lake Cimpago, Padang coast.
Some 100 stoves and 100 kg of tuna fish will be made available during the festival.
The Rendang Festival will be unusual because it does not feature beef, but tuna fish.
The Rendang Festival will be unusual because it does not feature beef, but tuna fish.
Rendang, caramelized beef curry and signature dish of Padang, was crowned World's Most Delicious Food on "Your pick: World's 50 most delicious foods" in 2011.
Originating from the Minangkabau region in West Sumatra, rendang was initially served solely at ceremonial occasions to honor guests.
Nowadays, however, rendang has become the icon of Padang Restaurants found all across the country and abroad.
Leading the world's taste, rendang and another Indonesian dish, nasi goring (fried rice) outranked Japanese Sushi and Ramen, Thailand's Pad Tai and Som Tam, Hong Kong's Dim Sum, and Chinese Peking Duck, apart from Italy's Lasagna and Gelato, U.S ice cream, and France's Croissant. ***2***
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EDITED BY INE
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