TNI intensifies deployment in Aceh<\/p>\n
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) is continuing to reinforce its
\ncapacity in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, deploying additional
\npersonnel and transportation to accelerate relief efforts.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for TNI disaster mitigation operation Col. Ahmad
\nYani said on Thursday that with the deployment of more aircraft,
\nsix planes and three helicopters were now in the province. In
\naddition, the U.S. is deploying 12 helicopters to the province,
\nwhile Singapore and Malaysia are sending one each.<\/p>\n
\"All helicopters are always on stand-by at Sultan Iskandar
\nMuda airport in Banda Aceh, while the planes make trips to and
\nfrom Jakarta, Medan and Aceh,\" Ahmad told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He added the planes were used to transport aid from Jakarta
\nand Medan to Aceh, and the helicopters distributed the aid to
\nremote areas with limited access to land transportation.<\/p>\n
\"The TNI has deployed 600 more troops in addition to the
\n25,000 already there for the security operation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
As for foreign teams on the ground, 23 U.S. personnel --
\nincluding 12 military personnel -- 93 Malaysian personnel, 21
\nSingaporean personnel and 14 South African search and rescue
\npersonnel are currently in Aceh, according to Ahmad.<\/p>\n
To ensure a coordinated operation, Ahmad said all relief
\npersonnel -- Indonesian and foreign -- attended an 8 a.m.
\nbriefing on the day's activities, as well as possible obstacles
\nthey might face.<\/p>\n
The morning briefing, he added, was also intended to prevent a
\nclash or overlap of tasks between national and foreign personnel.<\/p>\n
TNI teams are specifically responsible for emergency tasks,
\nsuch as recovering bodies, relocating refugees, erecting field
\nhospitals and distributing supplies to refugee camps.<\/p>\n
Ahmad claimed one obstacle the TNI relief teams were up
\nagainst was the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), whose
\nmembers often disguised themselves as refugees to enter camps.<\/p>\n
\"Two days ago, we captured two people in Meulaboh who we
\nsuspect are GAM members. They invaded the shelters and forced the
\nrefugees to hand over their rations,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-intensifies-deployment-in-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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