US ready to help investigation into Surabaya bomb attacks: Envoy

Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu pours water over the nose of an AH-64E Apache attack helicopter handed over by the US government in a ceremony at Ahmad Yani Air Force Base in Semarang, Central Java, on May 16. (JP/Suherdjoko

The US government is ready to provide the Indonesian government with assistance in its investigation into a string of suicide bomb attacks in East Java on Sunday and Monday, which left 25 people dead and at least 41 others injured, an envoy has said.

US deputy ambassador to Indonesia Erin McKee told reporters on Wednesday that the US was strongly opposed to terrorism and stood with the Indonesian people and government in eradicating terrorism.

She was speaking after attending the handover ceremony of eight AH-64E Apache attack helicopters at Ahmad Yani Air Force Base in Semarang, Central Java. The Indonesian government bought the eight helicopters worth US$41 million each from the US government.

McKee said all US government institutions were ready to help Indonesia.

The deputy ambassador further stated the US condemned the suicide bomb attacks that hit three churches in Surabaya and expressed her sympathy for the victims.

Despite the terror attacks, she said, the government would not prohibit US citizens from visiting Indonesia. “Our consulate in Surabaya and the US Embassy in Jakarta are still open,” said McKee. (ebf)

Source:hejakartapost.com