Prabowo Makes Sudden Visit to TNI Soldiers at Outermost Post in Miangas
President Prabowo Subianto suddenly ordered the vehicle carrying him to stop while en route to his working visit location, to meet TNI soldiers guarding the TNI Army Post (Posad) in Miangas, North Sulawesi.
Prabowo actually had no official agenda at Posad Miangas.
As the presidential vehicle passed by, two soldiers on guard immediately saluted. Prabowo then ordered the vehicle to halt. Prabowo alighted and approached the two soldiers guarding Posad Miangas at the time.
He then greeted the two soldiers, namely Sergeant Two (Serda) Alan Mandibo from Combat Engineer Battalion (Yonzipur) 19/Yudha Karya Nyata and Leading Soldier Armoko from Military Resort Command (Korem) 131/Santiago.
Both had been serving on Miangas Island for 11 months, guarding Indonesia’s northernmost territory bordering directly with the Philippines.
“It feels like speaking directly with Father (the President), we feel a sense of pride for ourselves as soldiers. Because this is the first time we have met Father in person, greeting, shaking hands, chatting a little, and also showing our barracks or post (to the President),” said Serda Alan Mandibo as quoted from the official broadcast of the Presidential Secretariat.
From several photos broadcast by the Presidential Secretariat, Prabowo, accompanied by Defence Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, directly inspected the conditions at Posad Miangas headquarters.
Prabowo also directly viewed the planned activities and reports of TNI AD soldiers’ activities in Miangas, who are part of the Outer Island Security Task Force (Satgas Pam Puter).
At Posad Miangas, President Prabowo also asked about the daily lives of the soldiers while on duty, including their clean water needs.
“What was asked by Father President is regarding our water source, for our daily needs for cooking, and also for bathing and washing. We answered, we have a well, and the well is clean,” he said.
Prabowo also inquired about the assignment duration of the two soldiers in Miangas, then the family conditions of the two soldiers.
“Father (President) is a firm person, attentive to members, and in my opinion, Father is very caring, so earlier (when) he first arrived, he immediately stopped by and headed to our post,” said Serda Alan.
Alan admitted that he never imagined or expected to experience a face-to-face meeting with the President at Miangas Island, his assignment location at the northern tip of Indonesia and very far from the capital.
“We didn’t expect it at all, we didn’t expect to meet face-to-face directly with Father President,” he said.
President Prabowo is the second president to visit Miangas after the 7th President Joko Widodo.