Wed, 05 Jul 2000

TNI denies police training linked to Paspampres

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Garrison Commander Brig. Gen. Hasanuddin denied on Tuesday a statement made by a senior police officer that some 200 police officers had been undergoing special training to replace the military personnel currently assigned to the Presidential Guard.

"The 200 police officers will only replace members deployed in the VVIP Presidential Guard detachment, which comes under the coordination of the Jakarta Garrison and whose members consist of personnel drawn from different TNI (Indonesian Military) and police units," Hasanuddin was quoted by Antara as saying.

Thus, the training of the police personnel has nothing to do with the Presidential Guard (Paspampres), he added.

"They are not going to be assigned as Paspampres personnel," Hasanuddin announced after the hand-over ceremony for the new commander of the Army's Special Force (Kopassus) at Kopassus Headquarters in Cijantung, South Jakarta.

Head of the public information unit at National Police Headquarters Sr. Supt. Saleh Saaf said on Monday that some 200 police personnel were being trained in Serpong, Tangerang, as part of the preparations to replace military personnel currently assigned to Paspampres.

The news was initially made known by National Police chief Gen. Rusdihardjo last Thursday during a gathering with former National Police chiefs and retired senior police officers. At the meeting, Rusdihardjo said Paspampres would soon be disbanded and its duties handed over to police personnel.

This shift in responsibilities, he said, could be seen as another positive achievement by the National Police, following the separation of the force from the TNI in April of last year.

According to Hasannudin, the VVIP Presidential Guard unit is responsible for ensuring the safety of the nation's former presidents and vice presidents.

Paspampres, on the other hand, is responsible for the safety of the incumbent President and Vice President, he said.

When asked to comment on Hasanuddin's remarks, Saleh supported the garrison commander, saying that Hasanuddin was correct.

However, Saleh added, the training of the 200 police personnel as members of the VVIP Presidential Guard unit is part of a process leading toward the disbandment of Paspampres.

"(The disbandment) will not be carried out overnight, however," Saleh said.

The Jakarta Garrison is responsible for all TNI forces and police in the capital. The garrison is under the command of the Jakarta Military commander.

The training, Saleh said, is taking place at the police's training and education center (Pusdiklat) in Serpong. The training, he added, was in line with international standards. (08)