Six soldiers discharged for desertion

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Six more soldiers in East Nusa Tenggara have recently been discharged for desertion, a senior military officer said on Friday.

They were Chief. Sgt. Untung Sumasto from the South Central Timor district military command and five other soldiers from the Wirasakti military command, namely First Sgt. Asmuni, Second Pvt. Eduardo Pareira, Second Pvt. Thomas dos Santos, Second Pvt. Jefrionas and First Pvt. Nomensen Neparasi.

They were discharged because they had deserted their posts, said Col. Moeswarno Moesanip, the chief of the Wirasakti military command overseeing East Nusa Tenggara province.

He said that the move was aimed at consolidating discipline within the ranks of the Indonesian military (TNI).

Since Moesanip took the helm of the Wirasakti military command in 2001, 139 soldiers under his command, including the latest six, have been dishonorably discharged. -- Antara