TNI Admits Imposing Physical Punishment on Undisciplined Cooperative Managers

Trainers from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) impose physical punishment on participants of basic military training (latsarmil) if they are found to have violated certain rules during the education programme, for example when a participant is late for morning roll call. “For instance, during morning roll call, if they are late, perhaps because they overslept and so forth, we give them a punishment of 10 or 15 push-ups,” said the Commander of the SPPI KDKMP and KNMP Training Battalion at the 1st Marine Infantry Brigade in Cilandak, Marine Lieutenant Colonel Agus Mutaqin, when met by journalists at the Marine headquarters in Cilandak, East Jakarta, on Thursday (25/6). Agus explained that the physical punishment is imposed so that participants develop a high level of discipline and obedience to the rules. The punishment is also expected to help participants live more orderly lives. Not only for being late for roll call, participants will also receive punishment if they do not participate in communal meals. According to Agus, this must be done because eating is a mandatory activity to maintain the participants’ physical health. “We also impose collective punishment, for example for not eating. Because eating is to improve our capabilities, if they do not eat or do not eat together with the others, we give punishment so that tomorrow they do not repeat it,” he said. Agus stressed that the punishment given to the participants is not equated with the standards for soldiers, but is rather adjusted to the participants’ physical abilities. In addition to punishment, his party also does not hesitate to give rewards or appreciation to participants who excel during the education programme. This is done so that participants are motivated and remain enthusiastic in undergoing the latsarmil programme. He added that the entire series of latsarmil education is still running safely and conducively. He hopes that this education process can be completed well and that all participants gain useful knowledge to be applied when managing the Koperasi Desa Merah Putih (Red and White Village Cooperatives). Regarding the handling of sick participants, he explained that participants with a history of health problems are not included in physical training. This is done to ensure that latsarmil participants remain in good health and can still follow the educational material. “Those with a chronic or serious illness history, we separate them down to the platoon and company level. So that field activities related to physical exertion, we do not include them,” said Agus. Agus said his party obtained data on the participants’ physical condition history from their health examination results before attending latsarmil. After each participant’s health condition is studied and separated, the trainers will direct participants with a history of illness to follow material in the classroom. For outdoor activities, Agus said, the latsarmil participants carry out several activities ranging from morning roll call to marching drills. The participants also undergo shooting practice with weapons prepared by Marine personnel. “Including later in the third week, we will train individual shooting on the range that we have prepared. So they have basic military skills that can hopefully serve as provisions for their next assignment,” said Agus. A total of 674 latsarmil participants from SPPI are undergoing one and a half months of education at the Pasmar I headquarters in Cilandak, Jakarta. The participants are divided into four companies, with each company containing six platoons. During their time at the Marine Corps headquarters, they follow various basic military training education programmes aimed at enhancing their spirit of nationalism and disciplined attitude in work.