Soldiers need post-duty supervision: Psychologist

Soldiers need post-duty supervision: Psychologist

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Soldiers who have been on stressful assignments need constant
supervision as their performance on duty and mental health may
suffer the consequences, a psychologist says.
"Stress occurs when achievements and expectations are going in
opposite ways. When a person's fortress is knocked down, it will
trigger aggressive behavior," the head of the University of
Indonesia's public service clinic for applied psychology, Indri
Savitri, told The Jakarta Post on Monday.

She was commenting on an incident on Sunday, when a soldier
opened fire on a group of his peers, killing one person and
leaving three others wounded. The Army soldiers were among the
Jakarta Military Command personnel who were backing up security
arrangements for the Asian-African Summit and its preceding
programs throughout last week.

First Lt. Sri Tigo Kencono died early on Monday at the Army's
Gatot Subroto Hospital (RSPAD), spokesman for the Jakarta
Military Lt. Col. Apang Sopandi said. Sri Tigo was buried in
Menteng Pulo public cemetery in South Jakarta.

The soldier, who was a graduate of Brawijaya University's
school of engineering in Malang, is survived by his wife and 10-
month-old baby.

Neither Sopandi or the RSPAD doctors were willing to disclose
specific information on the gunshot wounds that Sri Tigo
suffered.

Indri said that any individual who was moody, pessimistic or
extremely sensitive could fall victim to a stress disorder.

"Therefore, an individual with a stress disorder needs to get
support, such as from their family, enough rest and receive
personal or religious counseling to overcome their problems,"
said Indri.

The shooter, identified as First Priv. Bachtiar Chaniago
opened fired on his peers after an afternoon nap. He was
suffering from stress and will be examined by a psychiatrist,
Sopandi said.

Chief of the Jakarta Military Police Col. Otte Ruchiyat said
Bachtiar had been named a suspect. Investigators will question
him and a number of witnesses, including members of his family,
to get an idea of his mental health.

"The questioning will provide us with the details of his
motive, so that we can determine the punishment that will be
handed down to him," Otte said as quoted by Antara.

Apang, said, however, that the soldier would be punished
regardless of what had sparked the incident.

In August last year a Navy officer, First Lt. Fredick
Simorangkir, shot five Army soldiers while they were on duty in
the conflict-torn province of Aceh. Four of the soldiers were
killed.

Military prosecutors said Fredick was severely depressed and
under the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting.

During martial law in Aceh between May 2003 and May 2004, the
Indonesian Military deployed 25,000 troops to flush out Free Aceh
Movement rebels. Each soldier was on duty for no longer than six
months, for the benefit of their mental health. (004)