JP/8/Kopassus

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.