Haze may affect Indonesia, Thailand's joint exercise

BANGKOK, June 24 (TNA) - This year's 12-day joint exercise between the Thai and Indonesian air forces, codenamed "Elang Thainesia XVI", set to be held at the Indonesian Air Force’s Pekanbaru airbase on the Sumatra Island from June 24-July 5, may be affected by a heavy haze currently. The Royal Thai Air Force's Alphajet fighters, assigned to participate in the "Elang Thainesia XVI 2013" with the Indonesia Air Force’s Hawk fighters, have arrived at the Indonesian Pekanbaru airbase. As haze from forest fires in Indonesia has surged into a hazardous level and caused a drop in visibility, while people have been advised to wear face masks to protect themselves from any respiratory illness, air forces' authorities of both countries are examining the updated haze situation to see whether it will seriously affect the joint exercise, the first session of which was set on June 25. The "Elang Thainesia XVI 2013 is aimed at enhancing bilateral cooperation and relations between the air forces of the two neighbouring countries in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). (TNA)