Simple ceremony for Kopassus anniversay

Simple ceremony for Kopassus anniversay

BATUJAJAR, West Java (JP): The Army's Special Force, Kopassus,
mourning Monday's killing in Irian Jaya of 11 of its soldiers and
four civilians by a reportedly depressed officer, celebrated its
44th anniversary in a simple ceremony yesterday.

Attended by the force's soldiers stationed in Jakarta, Solo in
Central Java and Cilegon in West Java, the ceremony was presided
over by the force's deputy commander, Col. Idris Gassing. A
number of former servicemen living in the township were also
invited.

Special forces commander Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto did not
attend the ceremony. Earlier yesterday he flew to Timika, Irian
Jaya, to attend to the aftermath of the shooting.

He accompanied some of the bodies flown back to Jakarta later
yesterday.

Speeches written by President Soeharto and Army Chief Gen. R.
Hartono were delivered during the ceremony.

Soeharto asked the red-beret force to maintain their alertness
and their professional skills as members of a special force, even
if the country is in a relatively stable condition.

"The force should always be ready to be deployed to any part
of the country should the nation's unity and integrity come into
danger," Soeharto said in his statement delivered by Gassing.

"History has shown that it takes a long time to develop and
maintain unity in this diverse nation. The aspirations and
interests of the various group in society are so varied that it
needs patience and broad knowledge to mold them all into a single
national interest," he said.

He reminded the audience that the force was first established
to handle social unrest and uprisings at a time when the
government and the political elite were unable to ease the
widespread dissatisfaction.

"There was unrest and uprisings, and the effort to solve them
exhausted our soldiers' energy," he said. "That's when the force
was established to support the efforts to safeguard the nation's
independence."

Soeharto praised the special forces for its many jobs well
done. "The special forces have an important role in shaping
national stability and ensuring smooth development," he said.

Soeharto said the main responsibility to protect the nation's
survival rests on the nation itself. "For that purpose, we have
good, reliable forces, in the fields of security and defense, in
ideology, politics, economics and social and culture," he said.

Prabowo took up the leadership of the 3,500-strong force in
December. He said on Monday that the special forces would have to
be revamped "in line with the current environment, threats and
security situation".

He also said the force would be increased from four to five
battalions, would acquire fresh equipment and that he wanted to
build it into the elite force that the armed forces and the
people expect it to be.

Special forces troops are currently deployed in military
operations in Aceh, East Timor and Irian Jaya. (17/rms)