TNI Imposes Physical Punishment on Red-and-White Village Cooperative Managers During Military Training

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) has imposed physical punishments on participants of the basic military training (latsarmil) programme for Red-and-White Village Cooperative (KMP) managers who violate regulations, such as being late for morning assembly. “For example, during morning assembly, if they are late, perhaps because they overslept, we give them a punishment of 10 or 15 push-ups,” said Marine Lieutenant Colonel Agus Mutaqin, Commander of the Training Battalion for SPPI KDKMP and KNMP at the 1st Marine Brigade in Cilandak, East Jakarta, on Thursday. Agus explained that the physical punishment is intended to instil a high level of discipline and obedience to the rules. The punishment is also expected to help participants live more orderly lives. In addition to tardiness at assembly, participants will also receive punishment if they fail to attend communal meals. According to Agus, this is necessary 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 punish them so they do not repeat it the next day,” he said. Agus stressed that the punishments given to the participants are not the same as those for soldiers, but are adjusted to the participants’ physical capabilities. This is done to keep the participants motivated and enthusiastic throughout the training programme. He added that the entire training programme has so far been running safely and smoothly. He hopes the current training process can be completed successfully and that all participants will gain useful knowledge to apply when managing the Red-and-White Village Cooperatives.