JP\/8\/Kopassus<\/p>\n
Restoring image, formidable task ahead for Kopassus<\/p>\n
A'an Suryana
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
The Special Force Command (Kopassus), a much feared legion
\nwithin the Indonesian Military (TNI), has a long history of ups
\nand downs.<\/p>\n
Kopassus was born when the Indonesian Army was struggling to
\nput an end to separatist movement waged by the South Maluku
\nRepublic (RMS) in 1950.<\/p>\n
Facing a tough enemy, Col (Inf) A.E. Kawilarang, the commander
\nof the anti-rebel operation, decided to form a special force to
\nquel the separatist rebels, who received support from their
\nformer master, the Dutch.<\/p>\n
Kawilarang then appointed former Dutch soldier Rokus Bernandus
\nVisser, who had married to a Sundanese and changed his name to
\nMuhammad Idjon Djambi, to train and lead the special force.<\/p>\n
Visser was a seasoned combatant and trainer when he was part
\nof the Dutch Special Forces during the World War II.<\/p>\n
He took up the top job in the special force command which was
\nformally established on April 16, 1952, with a military rank of
\nmajor. The force remained part of the Siliwangi Military Command
\nuntil the Army headquarters acquiesced it in 1953 and renamed it
\nthe Army Commando Unit.<\/p>\n
According to a book written by Robert Lowry, titled The Armed
\nForces of Indonesia, the special force changed names several
\ntimes. It was known as Army's Paratroops Command Regiment
\n(RPKAD), the vanguard of military's communists cleansing in 1966.
\nThe name was maintained for two decades before it was called the
\nReconnaisance Warfare Command (Kopassandha) and in 1986, it
\nfinally became the Special Forces Command (Kopassus).<\/p>\n
It is widely known that the history of Kopassus is full of
\nglory. The RPKAD took a decisive part in aborting the coup
\nattempt by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965.
\nKopassandha curbed the Woyla aircraft hijacking of a Garuda
\nairliner to Bangkok in 1981, in which all but one of the
\nhijackers were killed along with one of their officers.
\nCollaborating with the Army Strategic Command (Kostrad), Kopassus
\nwas involved in the rescue operation of 26 hostages in 1996, in
\nwhich the hostages were abducted by rebel group led by Kelly
\nKwalik in Irian Jaya. Most of the hostages were freed, and this
\nsuccess was internationally recognized.<\/p>\n
With its proven track records, no wonder Kopassus has been the
\nbest training ground and provide a breed for TNI leaders.<\/p>\n
Most best known and brightest leaders of the Army come from
\nthe Kopassus, including Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, Gen.
\n(ret) Benny Moerdani, Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, Gen. (ret) Wismoyo
\nArismunandar and many others.<\/p>\n
However, the Kopassus glory did not last long. As the
\nautocratic and militaristic regime under Soeharto faded away in
\n1998, the civil society began to question the Kopassus dark track
\nrecord.<\/p>\n
In April 1998, it was revealed that Kopassus took part in the
\nabduction of student activists, which was caried out in 1996.
\nSome Kopassus members in Mawar Team was then brought to court.<\/p>\n
Kopassus members were also accused of taking part in the mass
\nviolence occurred in East Timor after historic post ballot in
\nSeptember 1999.<\/p>\n
The final scandal, which put Kopassus as a target for public
\ncriticism, was its involvement in the murder of Theys Eulay, the
\nleader of Papuan Movement several months ago. Three members of
\nKopassus had been tipped as suspects in this fresh case.<\/p>\n
Therefore, as it celebrated its 50 anniversary on Tuesday, the
\nspecial forces is facing a formidable task to restore its image
\nbefore public. The public demand that the special force is
\nprofessional, but it should respect the human rights.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp8kopassus-1447899208",
"image": ""
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