Monument for parachutists

BUN AIR BASE, Central Kalimantan: Air Force Chief of Staff Vice Marshal Hanafie Asnan dedicated a monument on Friday to mark the force's first ever parachute operation during the revolutionary struggle 51 years ago, Antara reported.

The Palagan Sambi monument, built in this airbase in Kotawaringin Barat regency, is dedicated to the force's airborne unit known as Kopaskhas (Special Force).

A C-4/Dakota transport plane that took part in that historic operation also became part of the monument.

The operation involved 13 soldiers dropped into Kotawaringin Barat to establish a radio station that would provide the only contact between Kalimantan and Yogyakarta, which in 1947 was the provisional capital of the new republic. Jakarta then was occupied by the Dutch forces attempting to reimpose colonial rule in Indonesia.

Some of the soldiers taking part in the operation died.

Muhammad Dahlan, 74, a survivor of that operation also witnessed the dedication ceremony as did Central Kalimantan Governor Warsito Rasman MA, Antara said.