Army's elite force to be reorganized

JAKARTA (JP): Kopassus, the Army's Special Force, will be reorganized to meet the demands of the current security environment.

Kopassus commander Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto said the elite force will increase the amount of personnel and weaponry to make it a more effective force.

"Details of the plan will be made public in due time by the upper command (the army chief)," Prabowo said at Kopassus headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.

Disclosing a bit of the plan, Prabowo said the personnel will be increased from four to five battalions and that new military equipment will be acquired.

Prabowo, a son-in-law of president Soeharto, declined to say how much the force will be increased or what kind of weapons would be purchased.

The plan to reorganize Kopassus was disclosed by Army Chief Gen. R. Hartono. He said that the Kopassus chief will be promoted to major general from brigadier general.

Prabowo said the decision was based on a recent evaluation of the elite force's structure. The red berets, which celebrate their 44th anniversary today, were last evaluated 10 years ago when it reduced its forces by one battalion and changed their name from Kopassanda to Kopassus.

"The organization will have to be revamped in line with the current environment, threats and security situation," he said.

Prabowo said the anniversary will be celebrated in a modest ceremony at its training center in Batujajar, West Java.

For this year's celebration, he said, Kopassus wants to save money, energy and time so that it can focus on more important matters.

Prabowo said he would not lead the ceremony because he is going to Irian Jaya. He declined to say if his trip has anything to do with yesterday's shooting incident, which involved Kopassus members and left 15 people dead.

Training and other activities to improve the force's professionalism and well-being are a top priority, he said.

Over the past several months, Kopassus members have undergone a series of exercises at its training centers in Cijantung, Batujajar and Cilegon, West Java.

Kopassus has conducted major military operations in Aceh, Irian Jaya and East Timor.

"I want to build Kopassus to be the elite force that the Armed Forces and the people expect it to be," he said.

He also said that he want to improve the welfare of the force's members so they can carry out their missions better.

"How could anyone expect Kopassus to perform its best if its members are poor. How will they carry out their duties in remote areas like Irian Jaya and East Timor if they are preoccupied with their families' deplorable living conditions," he asked. (rms)