JP/8/Kopassus
Restoring image, formidable task ahead for Kopassus
A'an Suryana The Jakarta Post Jakarta
The Special Force Command (Kopassus), a much feared legion within the Indonesian Military (TNI), has a long history of ups and downs.
Kopassus was born when the Indonesian Army was struggling to put an end to separatist movement waged by the South Maluku Republic (RMS) in 1950.
Facing a tough enemy, Col (Inf) A.E. Kawilarang, the commander of the anti-rebel operation, decided to form a special force to quel the separatist rebels, who received support from their former master, the Dutch.
Kawilarang then appointed former Dutch soldier Rokus Bernandus Visser, who had married to a Sundanese and changed his name to Muhammad Idjon Djambi, to train and lead the special force.
Visser was a seasoned combatant and trainer when he was part of the Dutch Special Forces during the World War II.
He took up the top job in the special force command which was formally established on April 16, 1952, with a military rank of major. The force remained part of the Siliwangi Military Command until the Army headquarters acquiesced it in 1953 and renamed it the Army Commando Unit.
According to a book written by Robert Lowry, titled The Armed Forces of Indonesia, the special force changed names several times. It was known as Army's Paratroops Command Regiment (RPKAD), the vanguard of military's communists cleansing in 1966. The name was maintained for two decades before it was called the Reconnaisance Warfare Command (Kopassandha) and in 1986, it finally became the Special Forces Command (Kopassus).
It is widely known that the history of Kopassus is full of glory. The RPKAD took a decisive part in aborting the coup attempt by the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI) in 1965. Kopassandha curbed the Woyla aircraft hijacking of a Garuda airliner to Bangkok in 1981, in which all but one of the hijackers were killed along with one of their officers. Collaborating with the Army Strategic Command (Kostrad), Kopassus was involved in the rescue operation of 26 hostages in 1996, in which the hostages were abducted by rebel group led by Kelly Kwalik in Irian Jaya. Most of the hostages were freed, and this success was internationally recognized.
With its proven track records, no wonder Kopassus has been the best training ground and provide a breed for TNI leaders.
Most best known and brightest leaders of the Army come from the Kopassus, including Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, Gen. (ret) Benny Moerdani, Gen. Tyasno Sudarto, Gen. (ret) Wismoyo Arismunandar and many others.
However, the Kopassus glory did not last long. As the autocratic and militaristic regime under Soeharto faded away in 1998, the civil society began to question the Kopassus dark track record.
In April 1998, it was revealed that Kopassus took part in the abduction of student activists, which was caried out in 1996. Some Kopassus members in Mawar Team was then brought to court.
Kopassus members were also accused of taking part in the mass violence occurred in East Timor after historic post ballot in September 1999.
The final scandal, which put Kopassus as a target for public criticism, was its involvement in the murder of Theys Eulay, the leader of Papuan Movement several months ago. Three members of Kopassus had been tipped as suspects in this fresh case.
Therefore, as it celebrated its 50 anniversary on Tuesday, the special forces is facing a formidable task to restore its image before public. The public demand that the special force is professional, but it should respect the human rights.