Kopassus groups reduced to 3, with 2 supporting units

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.
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