President Arrives In Biak

Biak, Papua, Aug 22 (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and entourage arrived at Manuhua airport, Biak Numfor District, Papua, in a presidential plane at 1.30 p.m local time on Friday. The President and party were welcomed by Papua Governor Lukas Enembe, Chief of the XVII/Cenderawasih Military Command Maj. Gen. Christian Zeabu, Papua Regional Police Head Brig. Gen. Jotje Mende M.Hum, Chief of the 173/PVB Distirit Military Brig Gen Chamim Besari, Commandant of The Navy`s Eastern Fleet`s Sea Security Force Admiral Heru Kusmanto and Biak Numfor Deputy Head Thomas AE Ondy. Before leaving for Raja Ampat through Eduard Osok airport of Sorong at 2.30 p.m, the President and entourage took a rest the VVIP room of Manuhua airport. The President left for Raja Ampat, West Papua province, to open Sail Raja Ampat. The president will spend the night on the KRI Makassar warship before traveling to Manokwari (West Papua) to commission the Raja Christ Monument in Mansinam island, Manokwari. Several Indonesian warships have been deployed in the eastern Indonesian seas to secure the international maritime event Sail Raja Ampat and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s visit to West Papua province on August 24-25, 2014. "A number of Indonesian naval warships are routinely patrolling the eastern Indonesian waters," Commander of the Naval Eastern Fleet`s Maritime Security Unit First Admiral Heru Kusmanto stated here on Monday. He refused to divulge further information regarding the number of warships being deployed to safeguard the event. Sail Raja Ampat is being organized in Raja Ampat District, West Papua Province, from August 17 to 23, 2014. President Yudhoyono is scheduled to attend the main event of Sail Raja Ampat, which will be held in Waisai, on August 23. The highlight of the main event will be a parade of warships. As part of the Sail Indonesia series, Sail Raja Ampat is the sixth event after Sail Bunaken in 2009, Sail Banda in 2010, Sail Wakatobi-Belitung in 2011, Sail Morotai in 2012, and Sail Komodo in 2013.