45 years after its formation, Army observes 1st anniversary

AMBARAWA, Central Java (JP): Fifty-four years after it was formed, the Indonesian Army declared its first anniversary on Wednesday.

Dec. 15, the anniversary of the infantry, was officially "annexed" on Wednesday as the celebration to mark the Army's birth.

Army Chief of Staff Gen. Tyasno Sudarto explained the real birthdate of the Army was Oct. 5, however that date had been assumed as the one commemorating the Indonesian Military (TNI) as a whole, thus leaving the Army without its own anniversary.

Tyasno said Dec. 15 was also the commemoration of the Ambarawa battle which took place in 1945. In that battle the late Gen. Sudirman, who is considered the father of the Armed Forces, led Indonesia's ragtag troops in a bitter fight against Allied occupation forces.

"The Army doesn't have its own birthday. Ours, on Oct. 5, was designated to be the TNI's anniversary while the Navy, Air Force and National Police all have their respective anniversaries," he remarked.

Tyasno who presided over the modest ceremony here said the anniversary also marked the rebirth of the army in facing future challenges.

"We will celebrate this date every year with one hope: That our beloved soldiers will also remember where they are from and how they were created," Tyasno said in this small town some 60 kilometers east of the Central Java's provincial capital of Semarang.

"If you want to be loved by the people, you have to love them first. If you want to be helped by them, help them first and if you want to be defended by them, defend them first," Tyasno told soldiers.

The military, and in particular the Army, is facing a huge crisis of confidence amongst the people as accusations continue to rise over its alleged rights abuses in the past. (emf/har)