Air Force moves into Cilangkap headquarters<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Air Force yesterday moved its headquarters
\nto the huge Cilangkap military complex in East Jakarta, a move
\nwhich President Soeharto hopes will further strengthen the unity
\nof the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
Soeharto, who is the supreme commander of the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI), presided at the inauguration of the new headquarters.<\/p>\n
The Air Force became the second service after the Navy to move
\ninto the complex, which is widely seen as the Indonesian version
\nof the Pentagon. The Army and the National Police are expected to
\nfollow suit in moving their headquarters there in the future.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said that bringing the three forces and the police
\nunder one roof is expected to reflect a more unified ABRI image.<\/p>\n
He recalled the time when various political forces tried to
\nextend their sphere of influence into ABRI's branches. There was
\nalso a time when they tried to set one service against another.<\/p>\n
\"We're grateful that those dark periods are far behind us.
\nThey're history. We erased those dark days because ABRI has
\nremained loyal to its Seven Oath ... (and) because ABRI has been
\nresolved in strengthening the integration of its various forces.\"<\/p>\n
The military's various branches were split during the
\npolitical turmoil that followed the abortive coup attempt blamed
\non the Indonesian Communist Party in September 1965.<\/p>\n
With the move to Cilangkap, the Air Force is expected to show
\nthat it is an inseparable part of ABRI, Soeharto said.<\/p>\n
He emphasized the need for Indonesia to build a strong
\nmilitary force that matches the forces of other countries.<\/p>\n
\"This is a real need,\" he said. \"The state's sovereignty,
\nnation's honor and territorial integrity cannot be entrusted to
\nother people. We ourselves should hold the honor, right and
\nresponsibility to uphold them.<\/p>\n
\"The development of ABRI's power is not to be used against
\nother parties. It is solely for the purpose of protecting the
\nstate sovereignty, nation's honor and territorial integrity.\"<\/p>\n
Turning to the Air Force, he said Indonesia is resolved to
\nbuild a service that is not only capable of defending the
\nnation's airspace but also one that is effective and respected.<\/p>\n
The Air Force is currently in the process of buying 24 Hawk
\n100 fighters from Britain to strengthen its squadron of fighter
\nfleets that already consist of the prized U.S. built F-16s. The
\nfirst delivery of the Hawk fighters will be in April next year.<\/p>\n
The new Air Force headquarters was built by Rajawali Nusantara
\nIndonesia, a state-owned contractor, under a deal that includes
\nleasing out the site of the former headquarters in the
\ncommercially strategic Pancoran intersection in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Rajawali took over the project in late 1993 from PT
\nSwadayatama Tigamas of Wirontono Group which failed to perform in
\naccordance to the terms of its contract.<\/p>\n
In return for the 30-year lease for the site of the former
\nheadquarters, Rajawali paid Rp 144 billion to the Air Force and
\nbuilt the six buildings and the housing facilities in the new
\nheadquarters in Cilangkap. The contractor is reportedly planning
\nto build a luxury shopping center at the Pancoran site.<\/p>\n
While stressing that the other services should also move their
\nheadquarters to Cilangkap, Soeharto said the move should be made
\nin accordance with the military's budgetary capability. (emb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/air-force-moves-into-cilangkap-headquarters-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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