Kopassus repairing its tarnished image<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Army's Special Force (Kopassus) marked on
\nFriday its 47th anniversary with promises to undertake reform in
\norder to repair its tarnished image, but refused to spell out the
\nmeasures.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Syahrir M.S., the commandant general of the red
\nberet corps, eleven of whose members recently stood trial for
\nabducting political activists, said the force was engaged in
\nintrospective measures and was opening itself to criticism in
\norder to \"purify\" the identity of its personnel.<\/p>\n
\"Kopassus is consolidating itself and has made important steps
\nto improve its image and performance,\" Syahrir said in a ceremony
\nmarking the anniversary at its headquarters in Cijantung, East
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
\"This is in order to adjust to the new paradigm of the Armed
\nForces,\" he said, adding the consolidation covered all fields in
\nthe force including equipment, training and education systems.<\/p>\n
He did not provide details of the reform program, but said:
\n\"We have made many changes in all fields\".<\/p>\n
Established in 1952, Kopassus made its mark during a number of
\noperations to crush separatism in West Kalimantan, Maluku, Irian
\nJaya, East Timor and Aceh.<\/p>\n
Attending the Friday ceremony were former vice president Try
\nSutrisno, former minister of defense Gen. (ret) L.B. Moerdani,
\ngovernor of the National Resilience Institution Lt. Gen. Agum
\nGumelar and Chief of Army Strategic Reserve Command Lt. Gen.
\nDjamari Chaniago.<\/p>\n
Apart from Moerdani and Agum, former Kopassus chiefs in
\nattendance were Col. (ret) K.W. Kawilarang, Lt. Gen. (ret)
\nKuntara, Lt. Gen. (ret) Tarub, Lt. Gen. (ret) Sintong Panjaitan,
\nLt. Gen. (ret) Yogie S. Memet and Maj. Gen. Muhdi Prandjono.<\/p>\n
Notably absent was former chief Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo
\nSubianto, during whose leadership the eleven corps members
\ncommitted the abductions. Following an investigation, Prabowo was
\nhonorable discharged from the military.<\/p>\n
Syahrir said Prabowo was invited to the ceremony, adding he
\nhad not received any explanation for the latter's non-attendance
\nat the function.<\/p>\n
Tarub, who led Kopassus from 1992 through 1993, said the corps
\nshould review its training program to repair its tarnished image
\nand to regain people's confidence in the elite force.<\/p>\n
\"Kopassus must return to the original role it has played to
\nmaintain national unity. Kopassus is being challenged to make a
\ncontribution to the nation, which is now facing disintegration,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Try said he was optimistic the planned general election would
\nproceed in accordance to schedule.<\/p>\n
\"All necessary preparations are being made... And I am quite
\nhopeful that the elections will proceed fairly and freely,\" he
\nsaid when asked to comment about former president Soeharto's
\nrecent statement that the polls may need to be postponed.<\/p>\n
Try stressed the election's importance, saying it was a gate
\nthrough which the nation could proceed to true democracy and to
\nthe establishment of a democratic government. (rms)<\/p>",
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