Army to station extra division in Papua<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Army plans to set up a new division of elite troops and
\nstation it in the country's westernmost province of Papua, where
\nrebel groups have been fighting a low intensity guerrilla war for
\nthe independence of the mineral-rich region for decades.<\/p>\n
Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Hotmagaradja Pandjaitan said on
\nFriday that the plan would involve the gradual deployment of up
\nto 15,000 troops from the Army's Strategic Reserves Command
\n(Kostrad) from 2005 through 2009.<\/p>\n
\"The first 5,000 troops will be recruited from Makassar in
\nSouth Sulawesi. They will be deployed in Sorong, Papua. To bring
\nthe number up to a total of 15,000, we will also recruit troops
\nfrom military commands (Kodam) nationwide,\" Pandjaitan told The
\nJakarta Post.<\/p>\n
According to him, the establishment of the new division was in
\nline with the Army's guidelines on the development of its
\nstrength.<\/p>\n
Pandjaitan said the deployment of more troops was also aimed
\nat securing the border between Indonesia and next-door neighbor
\nPapua New Guinea.<\/p>\n
Following the establishment of the new division, the Army will
\nhave three divisions of elite troops. The other two are currently
\nstationed in Cilodong, West Java, and Malang, Central Java. Each
\ndivision consists of between 10,000 and 12,000 troops.<\/p>\n
Pandjaitan refused to disclose the total cost of raising the
\nnew division, saying that \"the Army will hold a hearing with
\nlawmakers next week, during which we plan to discuss the issue.\"<\/p>\n
\"This is not a cheap project and it will have to be carried
\nout in accordance with our budget,\" he said, without elaborating.<\/p>\n
Currently, Kostrad has around 29,000 troops, giving it the
\nlargest establishment of all the country's military units.<\/p>\n
The plan to set up the new Kostrad division in Papua comes
\namid allegations that the military has been abused humanitarian
\naid funds to finance its antiseparatist activities in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Papua has been the scene of a sporadic guerrilla rebellion
\nsince 1963 when Indonesia took over the mountainous and
\nundeveloped territory from the Dutch administration. There have
\nbeen widespread allegations of military abuses down through the
\nyears.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's military, which is facing major funding
\nshortfalls, currently has only a few thousand troops in the
\nPapua. Any increase will be a major drain on its budget.<\/p>\n
Earlier this week, West Papua Baptist Church president, the
\nReverend Sofyan Yoman, said Indonesia's armed forces in Papua had
\nbeen using funds set aside for humanitarian projects to bankroll
\nmilitary operations, AFP reported.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/army-to-station-extra-division-in-papua-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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