Soldiers risked own lives to save people

Soldiers risked own lives to save people

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."