REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Former US president Barack Obama did not seek special treatment during his vacation in Bali on June 23-28, 2017, according to Wira Satya Military Resort Commander Gede Widiana.
"To date, there is no special request from Obama for a special treatment. Obama said he only wanted to vacation in Bali," Widiana remarked here on Friday.
He said Obama's request to not be granted special treatment was conveyed by a team of predecessors from the US during a meeting with the authorities, including those from the Indonesian Military (TNI) and Police.
Although there was no special request, Widiana said he did not want to take any risks, and hence, the TNI, along with the Police and the Presidential Security Guards, will provide security in accordance with the procedure followed for the former US head of state.
Obama, rumored to be joined by wife Michelle and daughters Sasha and Malia, along with other family members, is scheduled to arrive at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali at 5:55 p.m. Central Indonesia Standard Time.
Obama will first make another stop in Yogyakarta before heading to Jakarta to open the 4th Indonesian Diaspora Congress to be held on July 1-4.
President Joko Widodo has also invited Obama to visit the presidential palace in Bogor, West Java.