Elite army force told to secure 1997, 1998 elections
Elite army force told to secure 1997, 1998 elections
JAKARTA (JP): Army Chief of Staff Gen. R. Hartono yesterday
ordered the Army's elite unit, Special Force Command (Kopassus),
to help secure the general elections in 1997 and the presidential
election the following year.
The two elections should proceed smoothly, safely and
successfully, Hartono said at a military ceremony to mark the
43rd anniversary of Kopassus, the most fearsome combat force of
the Army, at its headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.
With its immense experience, the "Red Berets" must take the
lead in securing the two major national events, he said, adding
that Kopassus should also help ensure that people exercise their
democratic rights and obligations.
Political analysts expect the 1997 and 1998 elections to be
possible crucial turning points for Indonesia amidst speculations
that President Soeharto, now 73 years old, might step aside after
holding the reins since 1966.
Indonesia is scheduled to hold its seventh general elections
in 1997 to elect members of the House of Representatives. The
following year, the People's Consultative Assembly will convene
to elect the country's president and vice president.
Hartono specifically asked Kopassus to intensify its strategic
intelligence capability so that it could detect and deflect as
early as possible any indication that national stability could be
disrupted.
Kopassus spearheaded many military operations in the past,
including campaigns to quash the communist forces in 1965 and
separatist insurgences in Aceh, Irian Jaya, and East Timor.
It was also a Kopassus unit that was deployed to Don Muang
airport in Bangkok, Thailand, to storm and free the passengers of
a Garuda Indonesia airliner that was hijacked by Indonesian
extremists in 1981.
The anniversary ceremony yesterday was highlighted by a
display of self defense skills of Kopassus troopers and free fall
parachuting demonstrations that was also joined by servicemen
from Australia, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.
Hartono, an infantry officer, yesterday was made an honorary
member of Kopassus, receiving a red beret and the force's belt
and wings from Brig. Gen. Subagyo, the Kopassus chief.
Attending the ceremony were Minister of Defense and Security
Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat, State Minister of People's Housing
Akbar Tanjung, Chief of ABRI's General Affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono,
Chief of the Army's Strategic Reserve Command Maj. Gen. Tarub,
former chief of Udayana Military Command Maj. Gen. Sintong
Panjaitan and Deputy Chief of National Police on Operation
Affairs Maj. Gen. M.B. Hutagalung.
Amir Santoso, a political analyst and military watcher of the
University of Indonesia, who was present at the ceremony, praised
Hartono for attempting to secure the upcoming elections so early.
"I appreciate the precautions he has taken since the elections
are both strategic and critical to the question of the national
leadership," he said.
Brig. Gen. Subagyo later said he plans to request of Armed
Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung that Kopassus be allowed
to wear the old red-based camouflage fatigues.
The old color was once the "pride" of Kopassus troopers,
Subagyo told reporters.
A Kopassus spokesman explained that the red-based camouflage
fatigues were replaced with black-based fatigues in 1984 at the
instruction of the Army chief of staff of the time. He could not
recall the reason for the change.
Meanwhile, President Soeharto in a written speech read during
a reception to mark Kopassus anniversary warned Kopassus not to
bask in its glorious past. "Your past achievements and the high
professionalism you've managed to develop should not turn you
into arrogant soldiers," according to the speech read by Gen.
Feisal.
"This force has always been in the lead to defend this
Pancasila-based republic from all threats and challenges that
come from within and outside the country," Soeharto said. (rms)