Kopassus to celebrate golden year

JAKARTA: Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. is scheduled to preside over a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) on April 16, while President Megawati Soekarnoputri will president nasi tumpeng, a traditional rice cone, to the soldiers.

All military chiefs of staff, as well as the National Police chief, are expected to attend the celebration, which will be held at the Kopassus Headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta.

During the celebration, Kopassus soldiers will put on a demonstration of their marksmanship and self-defense skills.

"As the government has decided to separate TNI from the police, my soldiers have to improve their professionalism by holding military exercises in case the police ask for our assistance in maintaining security in the country's trouble spots, such as Aceh, Ambon and Papua," Kopassus chief, Maj. Gen. Amirul Isnaeni, told reporters on Sunday.

"Improving military professionalism is a must for my troops as part of our efforts to rehabilitate our image," Amirul said.

Several prominent former Kopassus members, including Lt. Gen. (ret) Prabowo Subianto, also a former chief of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad), have been invited to the ceremony.