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)