2) Garuda Indonesia recruits first female pilots from Papua
3) Indonesian Military forms ‘super elite unit’ to crack down on terrorism
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A google translate. Be-aware google translate can be a bit erratic.
Original bahasa link at
1) Refugees Nduga refused the assistance of the Ministry of Social Affairs
Reporter: Victor Mambor
Jubi July 30, 2019 8:16 pm
A mother at the location of the refugee community in Nduga was giving milk to her child - Jubi / Albertus Vembri
Papua No. 1 News Portal | Jubi
Jayapura, Jubi - Refugees Nduga refused assistance provided by the Ministry of Social Affairs (Ministry of Social Affairs). This refusal was carried out by refugees in Weneroma, Jayawijaya after learning that the coordination meeting in the distribution of aid was carried out in Makodim Jayawijaya.
This refusal, according to the head of the Papua Mountains Central Law and Human Rights Advocacy Network, Theo Hesegem, was carried out through an open meeting attended by the community, church leaders and traditional leaders on Monday (7/29/2019).
"The aid will be brought to Wamena after the media reported the condition of the Nduga refugees. If that is the ministry's assistance, it should be handed over by government representatives to direct refugees. But the reality is not the case, "said Hesegem, Tuesday (07/30/2019).
According to Hesegem, the refugees after learning of a coordination meeting in Makodim Jayawijaya, immediately held a meeting. When the Ministry of Social Affairs delegation came to the location of the refugees in Weneroma, the refugees had decided to reject the assistance. The reasons for the refugees were also clearly stated. Refugees cannot receive assistance if the distribution involves security forces besides being traumatized because of the beliefs of the refugees.
Letter of denial of assistance from the Ministry of Social Affairs - Jubi / IST
The coordinator of the Kingmi Synod in Jayawijaya, Rev. Desmon Walilo explained that people in the mountains believe that if they receive help or eat food from people who are considered "enemies" then their bodies will be weak, sick and die.
"These refugees will go from their villages because there are military operations or security operations carried out by members of the TNI or Polri, so they will reject any assistance involving the TNI or Polri," Reverend Walilo said.
In addition, according to Reverend Walilo, the coordination meeting conducted from 10:00 to 15:00 local time aroused suspicion of the refugees. Because the Director General of Social Protection and Security of the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat told the church that accompanied the refugees he would only stop by for a while in Makodim for coordination.
"In the sense of the community, for a little more than an hour. But in reality for hours so people are suspicious. Most people have also returned home when the Ministry of Social Affairs group arrived at the evacuation site, "said Pastor Walilo.
In a letter of refusal received by the editorial staff of Jubi, refugees N also refused to accept the assistance with four reasons, namely: 1) President Joko Widodo had to withdraw organic troops from Nduga so that the refugees could return to their respective villages for activities; 2) For eight months the country was more concerned with military operations than the fate of refugees; 3) 139 people have died of starvation, illness and being shot; 4) Until the eighth month, there is no clear place for refugees.
Harry Hikmat during a coordination meeting related to Nduga refugees together with Dandim 1702 / Jayawijaya, Chief of Police, Nduga District Government, Jayawijaya Government, Papua Provincial Social Service, Monday in Makodim Jayawijaya said that the experience of TNI and Polri in distributing aid could facilitate the provincial and district social services in channel assistance.
However, he acknowledged that when aid was channeled using the resources of the security apparatus, in this case the TNI had a rejection from the community which prevented the distribution of aid.
"But we will try to keep channeling and going to talk with community leaders how the aid will arrive. It takes understanding with each other so that this humanitarian action can work and be optimal, "said Harry.
Harry also ensured that after the first phase of assistance worth Rp. 2 billion in the form of logistics and GBP rice was distributed, the second phase of assistance was ready to be channeled again to the Nduga refugees. Phase I has been distributed in January 2019. Phase II packages for school supplies, children's play, learning for children, sports and equipment for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and special needs have been prepared. And stage III in the form of regular rice and additional food and logistics packages.
"For the whole, stage II and III assistance in the position already exists in the social service logistics warehouse Nduga in Wamena," said Harry. (*)
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2) Garuda Indonesia recruits first female pilots from Papua
NEWS DESK THE JAKARTA POST
Jakarta / Wed, July 31, 2019 / 05:03 pm
National flag carrier Garuda Indonesia announced on Wednesday that it had recruited two female pilots from Papua.
According to a statement received by The Jakarta Post, Vanda Astri Korisano and Martha Itaar are part of the first batch of a pilot recruitment program from Papua. Both graduated from Nelson Aviation College in New Zealand and have earned their pilot's license from the Indonesian Civil Aviation Directorate General (DGCA).
Vanda is set to undergo training at the Garuda Indonesia Training Center (GITC) in early August to obtain a Boeing 737-800 NG rating. Meanwhile, Martha will go through a training program at Citilink Indonesia prior to joining the low-cost subsidiary of Garuda Indonesia.
Garuda Indonesia president director Ari Askhara said the pilot recruitment program was part of the airline's commitment to offering opportunities to outstanding talent from across the archipelago.
Ari is hopeful that more skilled pilots from Papua would follow in the footsteps of Martha and Vanda.
Additionally, the carrier will also provide opportunities for Indonesians from all backgrounds to join the company as cabin crew or ground staff. (jes/kes)
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https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2019/07/30/indonesian-military-forms-super-elown on terrorismite-unit-to-crack-down-on-terrorism.html
3) Indonesian Military forms ‘super elite unit’ to crack down on terrorism
News Desk The Jakarta Post
Jakarta / Tue, July 30, 2019 / 07:50 pm
The Indonesian Military (TNI) is expected to play a bigger role in the country's war on terror with the establishment of a "super elite unit" for deploying in national security emergencies, including terror attacks.
The newly established Special Operations Command (Koopssus) comprises 400 personnel from the crème de la crème of the military's special forces: the 81 Special Detachment (Gultor) of the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus), the Jalamangkara Detachment (Denjaka) of the Navy’s Marine Corps, and the Bravo 90 Detachment (Denbravo) of the Air Force’s Special Forces Corps (Korpaskhas).
The Koopssus is under the command of Brig. Gen. Rochadi, who was appointed to the new role from his previous position as the director of the TNI’s Strategic Intelligence Agency (BAIS).
Expected to be highly agile, the Koopssus is to conduct special operations in Indonesia and abroad to protect national security interests.
TNI chief Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto said the super elite unit had three counterterrorism functions – deterrence, action and recovery – and that the Koopssus' primary role was to provide surveillance in its deterrence function.
“About 80 percent of [the unit's] operations will be in surveillance,” Hadi said on Tuesday during the unit’s inauguration ceremony at TNI headquarters.
He added that 100 Koopssus personnel could be deployed to fight terrorist groups if needed, and stressed that the TNI would coordinate with the National Police and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) on its missions.
Hadi continued that the special unit would be able to conduct overseas missions, Last year, he cited 1981’s Operation Woyla as an example of a situation in which the Koopssus could be mobilized.
Operation Woyla was launched when a Garuda Indonesia flight was hijacked and forced to land in Bangkok under the Komando Jihad terrorist uprising of Indonesia’s Darul Islam armed rebel group. Indonesian special forces personnel stormed the plane and freed most of the passengers and crew.
Forming the Koopssus is deemed relevant in view of the increasing terror threat in the region, particularly in the southern Phillipines where several Indonesian nationals have been kidnapped by militants of the Islamic State-linked Abu Sayyaf group.
In 2016, the TNI said it was ready to provide operational support to the Philippine military against the Abu Sayyaf militants who had hijacked two Indonesian vessels and kidnapped 10 Indonesian crewmen.
The idea to establish the special unit was proposed in 2015 by then-TNI chief Gen. Moeldoko, and shut down by his successor Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo before it was revived last year when the House of Representatives (DPR) passed a revision to the 2003 Antiterrorism Law.
The revision grants greater powers to the police, and particularly the military, to combat terrorist groups. It also mandates the formation of the Koopssus.
The TNI's greater involvement in the war on terror has further strengthened growing perceptions that the current administration is paving the way for greater military involvement in civilian affairs.
The National Police (Polri) have been the sole security agency tasked with maintaining public order and internal security following the 1998 Reform movement. Many tasks that were previously under the military's purview were transferred to Polri when it was separated from the Indonesian Armed Forces (ABRI), the precursor of the TNI.
While Polri has achieved several successes with its Densus 88 antiterror squad, especially in urban environments, its Mobile Brigade (Brimob) paramilitary unit has found it difficult to suppress terrorist and separatist activities in non-urban settings, particularly in operations that require "jungle warfare" tactics.
The police have called for military reinforcement in such operations, such as when it formed a joint task force to quell the Eastern Indonesia Mujahidi (MIT) terror group led by Santoso in Poso, Central Sulawesi. The task force failed to apprehend Santoso through several iterations of Operation Camar Maleo, and it was only in 2016 that Santoso was killed during Operation Tinombala.
The 2004 TNI Law stipulates counterterrorism as one of the 14 military operations other than war (MOOTW) that the TNI may conduct in addition to its main duty to protect the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Hadi said the TNI had submitted a proposal to the House to request Rp1.5 trillion [US$106.9 million] in state budget funding. The proposed budget is to be used for developing infrastructure and procuring equipment for the new unit.
Benny Mamoto of the University of Indonesia's Research Center for Police Science and Terrorism Studies said that deploying a special joint force was necessary to combat non-traditional threats to national security.
However, he urged that a comprehensive standard operating procedure (SOP) be developed to clearly define the authority and jurisdiction of the military and the police in counterterrorism.
President Joko Widodo has yet to issue a presidential regulation on the Koopssus’ operations.
“The special [Koopssus] unit could play a vital role, depending on the magnitude of the situation,” he said, citing hijacking and major hostage situations as among those that would legally warrant the involvement of the Koopssus.
Human rights groups, however, have voiced concern over the Koopssus, saying that the military unit's involvement in counterterrorism – the traditional domain of civilian security forces – could potentially curtail civil liberties.
National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) commissioner Amirudin Al Rahab called for “specific and clear” rules of Koopssus engagement.
“Once the presidential regulation (Perpres) on Koopssus operations has been [drafted], Komnas HAM will review it and offer recommendations on preventive measures to mitigate any potential human rights violations,” Amirudin said.
TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sisriadi Iskandar said that the military would continue to refer to Article 7 of the 2004 TNI Law as the legal basis for its counterterrorism operations while it awaited the Perpres that would detail its operational procedures.
“The Koopssus should be deployed [specifically] in accordance with individual security threats to the nation," he said, adding that while the unit would generally stand by for a call for reinforcements from the National Police, in certain circumstances "we can act directly without prior request". (asp)
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