JP/20/NORA

JP/20/NORA

RI's first woman naval base commander

Haidir Anwar Tanjung The Jakarta Post Pekanbaru, Riau

When one meets Commander Nora Lelyana, she seems so relaxed and self-assured, and is so hospitable, that one might forget that it is her duty to oversee the over 200 soldiers who safeguard the North Sumatra and Riau waters.

Nora, the mother of nine-year-old Dito Pratomo, took over as commander of the naval base in Dumai, in August 2003.

Dumai is about 200 kilometers north of the capital of Riau, Pekanbaru.

As a naval base commander, it is her job to supervise warship operations, for example vessel repair. It is also her job to ensure the security of the territorial waters under her authority, and to develop the maritime potential of these waters.

The territorial waters under her authority extend from Tanjung Balai Asahan, North Sumatra to Jemur Island, Panipahan, Dumai, Bengkalis and Panjang Straits, Riau. They stretch over a total of 240 nautical miles and are located in the Malacca Straits, directly bordering Malaysia.

"I was really surprised to learn that I had been entrusted with this position. This is the first time that the position of a naval base commander has been given to a woman. I will carry out my duty as best as I can. If I succeed, other members of the Naval Women Corps (KOWAL) will later be similarly trusted," Nora, who was trained as a dentist, told The Jakarta Post.

The Dumai waters are the main gateway for sea transportation to mainland Riau, which borders with Malaysia. It is no surprise, therefore, that these waters are highly susceptible to smuggling at all levels, from the smuggling of babies from Sumatra to Malaysia and Singapore, to the smuggling of illegally felled logs as well as electronic goods.

The naval force under her command has apprehended a number of vessels smuggling timber from Riau to Malaysia. "Besides, members of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) also flee from Aceh waters to the territorial waters under my authority," she said.

Nora, never had any ambition to join the Army before she completed her studies at Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java in 1986.

Actually, as soon as she qualified as a dentist, many companies, for example PT Semen Gresik, were ready to employ her. "I was also accepted to teach at my former school," said Nora, who received many scholarships and completed her studies in less than the normally required five years.

When she was first conscripted, she failed to turn up as she did not have the courage to join the Army. When she was summoned for the second time, she complied. "Actually, I did not want to join the Army but as an Indonesian citizen, I came when I was summoned," she said.

As an ordinary person without the slightest ambition to join the services, Nora said that she was honestly shocked when she took part in basic training for KOWAL in Lembang, Bandung.

However, as she strongly believed that "if other people could do something then so too could I," she continued training, with a happy heart.

"During my military training, I would laugh every time my instructor scolded me. Strangely, I don't know why, but my instructor would also laugh after he scolded me," she said with a smile.

One unforgettable experience during her military training was caused by her ability to fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

Before evening roll call, all trainees were required to clean their own weapons. Unfortunately, some of her colleagues hadn't cleaned theirs. As a result, all the trainees were punished and had to march whilst holding up their weapons.

"I felt very sleepy when we were punished and were asked to march. I was in front, and when the instructor told us to stop, I continued walking and hit the wall," said Nora.

When she was a student, Nora was also a member of the students' senate and is now a member of the Asia-Pacific organization of dentists.

Nora was an avid painter while still in junior high school. At one time, she and her school friends held an exhibition of their paintings at Balai Budaya Surabaya. At least 30 of her works were exhibited at that time.

"Once I also won first prize in a painting competition for junior high school students from all over East Java. I virtually stopped painting when I studied at university," she said.

As a dentist, she was first placed in the health service of the Marine Corps in Jakarta. Between 1988 and 1990, she was also assigned as a dentist at the marine base in Surabaya. In the next four years, she was appointed head of Belawan naval base hospital.

Before joining the Naval Staff and Commander College in Cipulir in 2001, Nora completed a variety of military training programs, such as Women's Conscripted Military Officer School (second batch), military comprehensive education, officer transitional education, and functional officer education II for health.

"I thank God that I have been ranked first intellectually and in terms of officer's and soldier's qualifications. I have even earned the Dharma Wiratama Widya Wacana medal for the best essay. But I did not score well in the physical area," she noted. Despite her many achievements, Nora realizes that her success could be attributed to the support of her husband, Purwoko, her former university mate. Although her husband is a civilian, he has a good understanding of his wife's profession.

"Without my husband's support, I would never be like I am now," said Nora, whose husband is now working somewhere in Medan.