Soldiers rescuing Irian hostages get promotion
JAKARTA (JP): More than 100 soldiers were promoted yesterday for their role in ending the four-month hostage drama in the Irian Jaya jungle earlier this month.
The troops from the army, air force, navy and police also received awards for their role in securing the safe release of nine captives from the Free Papua Movement rebels.
Those promoted were all below colonel. The Armed Forces has left it to President Soeharto to decide whether colonels and above are also to be promoted.
Army spokesman Brig. Gen. Robik Mukav said the decision to promote the officers was recommended by the Armed Forces' council in charge of career development.
He said most of those promoted were officers directly involved in the much-heralded military operation. Other awards were conferred on those supporting the mission.
Beside having their ranks promoted, more senior officers will have the opportunity to pursue studies at the Armed Forces command staff school.
The commandos launched the rescue operation on May 9, after the International Committee of the Red Cross abandoned its mission to secure the safe release of the hostages in the jungle near Geselama village in the Jayawijaya regency.
They freed nine hostages, including four Britons, two Dutch nationals and three Indonesians. Two Indonesian hostages were hacked to death by their abductors.
Among the rewarded troops, were Col. Amirullah, currently assistant to chief of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) for intelligence affairs, and Capt. Agus Rohman, also from Kopassus.
Amirullah's rank was not promoted but he will be assigned to fill a vacant command position in a provincial-level military command that Robik declined to name.
Agus had his rank raised to major.
"Amirullah's promotion to the command post will be proposed to the armed forces chief," Robik explained.
He also said that the 11 soldiers killed in a bizarre shooting at Timika airport on April 15 by a deranged Kopassus soldier would also have their ranks raised posthumously.
Among those killed was the chief of the prestigious Kopassus' 81th detachment, Lt. Col. Adel Gustinigo.
When asked about possible promotion for the Chief of the Trikora Military Command, Maj. Gen. Dunidja and Kopassus chief Brig. Gen. Prabowo Subianto, who led the whole rescue operation, Robik said Dunidja's name was not raised in the council's meeting. He praised Prabowo as a "great leader."
Meanwhile, Armed Forces chief for general affairs Lt. Gen. Soeyono said separately that he had not received proposals on the promotion of the two generals or any other generals.
However, he did not discount the possibility that the more senior officers might have their ranks and positions promoted in the foreseeable future.
Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung said last month that there would be no more reshuffling of the military's top brass until after the general election next year. "ABRI now wants to concentrate on making the election a success," he said. (imn)