Soldiers divided between work and family

Apriadi Gunawan The Jakarta Post/Lhokseumawe

"If we wanted to run to safety ourselves we could have but we didn't have the heart. Our duty is not only to protect people during conflict but also at times of disaster, although it means putting our own lives at risk."

Capt. Supriyadi Tarigan recalled how he and other soldiers tried to save as many lives as they could when the massive tidal waves hit the region.

Having been assigned in Aceh for nine months now, the marine intelligence officer from Yonif 2 unit almost died when the tidal waves hit his post in Kuala Jeumpa, Bireuen regency, which was located only 50 meters from the beachfront.

He has no regrets, although his left foot was injured and needed six stiches and some of his friends died while trying to save people from the giant waves.

One of them, Private Krisdayanto, died, washed out by the waves while trying to save others.

Krisdayanto, who was assigned at Gorilla 3 post in Lancoek village, Syamtalira Bayu district in North Aceh, managed to rescue two residents by carrying them to the main road.

But the waves took Krisdayanto when he was helping an old woman.

Supriyanto said that when Krisdayanto was rescuing the woman, who was some 500 meters from the beachfront, a bridge fell after the waves hit it hard, dragging the two of them along with it.

Krisdayanto's body was found by his friends a day later in the same village.

Two other marines, Private Dede Dasan Basri and Private Warman, both from Afrika 6 marine post in Tanoh Anoe village, Krueng Mane district in North Aceh, also died while rescuing people.

Dede was wiped out by the waves from behind while carrying a resident, while Warman was hit in the head by a wooden block.

Six other marines were seriously injured and are now being treated at Kesrem Lilawangsa hospital in Lhokseumawe.

"The rescue work is risky but we're not afraid although we put our own lives in danger," said Supriyanto in Tanoh Anoe while leading a search for missing weapons that were flushed out by the tsunami.

In the disaster, at least 10 marine posts from Yonif 2 unit were destroyed by the tsunami. The posts were located on the beachfront, stretching from Tanah Pasir in North Aceh to Samalanga in Bireuen regency. The posts were there to prevent rebels of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) from buying illegal weapons.

Apart from ruined posts, at least nine weapons are missing after the tsunami. Four of the weapons were recovered but the remainder are still unaccounted for.

Supriyanto said that after learning from the television that giant tidal waves had hit the place where he was assigned, his family in Jakarta was so worried.

As communications were cut after the disaster struck the area on Dec. 26 morning, he finally managed to contact his family at nightfall, and they were so relieved.

"I was worried that if I didn't call they would be frantic worrying over my fate. But it's the risk that a soldier like me has to take."

After the disaster struck, Lt. James Munthe, who has been in Aceh for nine months and is assigned at Afrika 1 post, also tried to let his parents in Medan, North Sumatra know that he was safe in between saving people's lives.

His parents, he said, have been worried ever since he was assigned in the province. "And if I didn't call after the disaster, they would have felt much more distressed; it's natural."