Kopassus groups reduced to 3, with 2 supporting units
JAKARTA (JP): The Army's Special Force (Kopassus) officially announced on Monday the reorganization of its structure from five operational groups to three, with two supporting units.
Kopassus chief Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaeni, however, said the new structure would be under trial for one year before being reviewed for further implementation.
"The reorganization of Kopassus has been approved (by the Indonesian Military headquarters). But, the process is ongoing," Amirul told a media conference after chairing the ceremony to commemorate the force's 49th anniversary at its headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.
Most of the retired generals from Kopassus were present at the ceremony, including former Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI) chief Gen. (ret) Leonardus Benyamin "Benny" Moerdani, former minister of defense and security Gen. (ret) Edi Sudradjat, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications Gen. (ret) Agum Gumelar, and Minister of Industry and Trade Gen. (ret) Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.
"Regarding the deployment of troops affected by the implementation of the new structure, it will be up to the Army Chief of Staff and the Kopassus personnel department to manage," said Amirul, who was accompanied by commanders of the three groups and the two units in the media conference.
As a result of the reorganization, some 6,000 Kopassus personnel who are split into five groups, will be reduced in number.
But, Amirul declined to mention the actual figure, saying that "there is no such elite force in the world that would reveal the exact number of its troops."
He quickly added that Kopassus was among the smallest elite troops in the world.
In 1996 the elite force was expanded from four groups to five.
Group I, located in Serang, Banten province and Group II, located in Kartosuro, near Surakarta, Central Java, both comprised combat troops.
Group III in Batujajar, Bandung, West Java, was responsible for education and training.
Groups IV and V, located in Cijantung, East Jakarta, were responsible for intelligence and anti-terrorism operations respectively.
The 1996 reorganization also promoted the Kopassus chief from the rank of brigadier general to major general.
The current Kopassus reorganization will retain the two combat groups and the intelligence group, but convert the anti-terrorism group into an anti-terrorism unit and the education and training group into an education center.
Combat Groups I and II will be located in Serang and Kartosuro, respectively, while Intelligence Group III will be located in Cijantung.
The new anti-terrorism unit, also to be situated in Cijantung, will report directly to the Kopassus chief, while the Kopassus Education Center will be situated in Batujajar.
Separately, Kopassus spokesman Capt. Farid Ma'ruf said the anti-terrorism unit will be named the Kopassus 81 Anti-Terror Unit and be led by Col. Lodewijk F. Paulus, while the Education Center will be led by Col. Hotma Marbun.
Groups I and II will still be led by Col. I Ketut Mudja and Col. Edwin Hudawi Lubis respectively. While the former Group IV, now renamed Group III, will be led by Col. Hotmangaradja Panjaitan.
"We may channel the remaining personnel to other units in the Army headquarters," Farid told The Jakarta Post by telephone. (02)