Simple ceremony for Kopassus anniversay<\/p>\n
BATUJAJAR, West Java (JP): The Army's Special Force, Kopassus,
\nmourning Monday's killing in Irian Jaya of 11 of its soldiers and
\nfour civilians by a reportedly depressed officer, celebrated its
\n44th anniversary in a simple ceremony yesterday.<\/p>\n
Attended by the force's soldiers stationed in Jakarta, Solo in
\nCentral Java and Cilegon in West Java, the ceremony was presided
\nover by the force's deputy commander, Col. Idris Gassing. A
\nnumber of former servicemen living in the township were also
\ninvited.<\/p>\n
Special forces commander Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto did not
\nattend the ceremony. Earlier yesterday he flew to Timika, Irian
\nJaya, to attend to the aftermath of the shooting.<\/p>\n
He accompanied some of the bodies flown back to Jakarta later
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Speeches written by President Soeharto and Army Chief Gen. R.
\nHartono were delivered during the ceremony.<\/p>\n
Soeharto asked the red-beret force to maintain their alertness
\nand their professional skills as members of a special force, even
\nif the country is in a relatively stable condition.<\/p>\n
\"The force should always be ready to be deployed to any part
\nof the country should the nation's unity and integrity come into
\ndanger,\" Soeharto said in his statement delivered by Gassing.<\/p>\n
\"History has shown that it takes a long time to develop and
\nmaintain unity in this diverse nation. The aspirations and
\ninterests of the various group in society are so varied that it
\nneeds patience and broad knowledge to mold them all into a single
\nnational interest,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He reminded the audience that the force was first established
\nto handle social unrest and uprisings at a time when the
\ngovernment and the political elite were unable to ease the
\nwidespread dissatisfaction.<\/p>\n
\"There was unrest and uprisings, and the effort to solve them
\nexhausted our soldiers' energy,\" he said. \"That's when the force
\nwas established to support the efforts to safeguard the nation's
\nindependence.\"<\/p>\n
Soeharto praised the special forces for its many jobs well
\ndone. \"The special forces have an important role in shaping
\nnational stability and ensuring smooth development,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Soeharto said the main responsibility to protect the nation's
\nsurvival rests on the nation itself. \"For that purpose, we have
\ngood, reliable forces, in the fields of security and defense, in
\nideology, politics, economics and social and culture,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Prabowo took up the leadership of the 3,500-strong force in
\nDecember. He said on Monday that the special forces would have to
\nbe revamped \"in line with the current environment, threats and
\nsecurity situation\".<\/p>\n
He also said the force would be increased from four to five
\nbattalions, would acquire fresh equipment and that he wanted to
\nbuild it into the elite force that the armed forces and the
\npeople expect it to be.<\/p>\n
Special forces troops are currently deployed in military
\noperations in Aceh, East Timor and Irian Jaya. (17\/rms)<\/p>",
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