TNI intensifies deployment in Aceh
TNI intensifies deployment in Aceh
Ruslan Sangadji, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh
The Indonesian Military (TNI) is continuing to reinforce its
capacity in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, deploying additional
personnel and transportation to accelerate relief efforts.
Spokesman for TNI disaster mitigation operation Col. Ahmad
Yani said on Thursday that with the deployment of more aircraft,
six planes and three helicopters were now in the province. In
addition, the U.S. is deploying 12 helicopters to the province,
while Singapore and Malaysia are sending one each.
"All helicopters are always on stand-by at Sultan Iskandar
Muda airport in Banda Aceh, while the planes make trips to and
from Jakarta, Medan and Aceh," Ahmad told The Jakarta Post.
He added the planes were used to transport aid from Jakarta
and Medan to Aceh, and the helicopters distributed the aid to
remote areas with limited access to land transportation.
"The TNI has deployed 600 more troops in addition to the
25,000 already there for the security operation," he said.
As for foreign teams on the ground, 23 U.S. personnel --
including 12 military personnel -- 93 Malaysian personnel, 21
Singaporean personnel and 14 South African search and rescue
personnel are currently in Aceh, according to Ahmad.
To ensure a coordinated operation, Ahmad said all relief
personnel -- Indonesian and foreign -- attended an 8 a.m.
briefing on the day's activities, as well as possible obstacles
they might face.
The morning briefing, he added, was also intended to prevent a
clash or overlap of tasks between national and foreign personnel.
TNI teams are specifically responsible for emergency tasks,
such as recovering bodies, relocating refugees, erecting field
hospitals and distributing supplies to refugee camps.
Ahmad claimed one obstacle the TNI relief teams were up
against was the separatist Free Aceh Movement (GAM), whose
members often disguised themselves as refugees to enter camps.
"Two days ago, we captured two people in Meulaboh who we
suspect are GAM members. They invaded the shelters and forced the
refugees to hand over their rations," he said.