About Kopassus

	Edition 07/02 - 19/Apr/97
	Analysis & Events

Kopassus: Elite Troops Playing An Important Role

The Army's Special Force Kopassus, or the Red Berets, is well respected, not just for its combat record but also because of its key relationship with Military Area Commands.

Who doesn't know of the Red Berets? This week they celebrated their 45th anniversary as an elite military force. They have an excellent record of performance especially in their prestigious and heavy military duties. Their successes include: DI/TII (Darul Islam/Tentara Islam Indonesia); the Talang Betutu Operation against the rebellion in Tentara Teritorium (Territorial Troops) IV; aborting the US Fleet VII; destroying operation PRRI/Permesta; Kahar Muzakkar; the Trikora Operation; the Dwikora Operation; destroying G30S/PKI; the Naga Operation; Pepera in West Irian; the Seroja Operation in East Timor; GPK (the government security term meaning peace-disturbing movement); the Gerakan Pengacau Keamanan Operation in Aceh; the hostage freeing operation; and other military operations.
It was established on April 16, 1952 in Siliwangi command division. It was set up to deal with the DI/TII operation in West Java. It was modeled on the troops from the Independence Movement of South Maluku. Col. Alex Evert Kawilarang, the Commandant of Tentara Teritorium III Siliwangi, proposed the forming of the elite troop which was originally called Kesatuan Komando Tentara Teritorium. It was placed under the command of the Tentara Teritorium Commandant III Siliwangi. Mochammad Idjon Djanbi, a former KNIL captain - who had deserted - was the Commandant. His original name was Captain Rokus Bernardus Visser. On February 9, 1953, Kesko TT was transferred from Siliwangi and placed directly under the Army Chief of Staff.
After proving itself in operations, ABRI Headquarters took over Siliwangi command on March 18, 1953 and changed its name to Army Commando Unit (KKAD). On July 1955, the KKAD was raised to Army Parachute Commando Regiment (RPKAD), still under the command of Mochammad Idjon Djanbi.
In 1955, KKAD was raised to RPKAD. Then in 1959, the combat section was removed to Cijantung in South Jakarta and the abbreviation of RPKAD changed to Para Commando Army Regiment. At that time, it was led by Maj. Kaharuddin Nasution. The move was quite dangerous. The first Commandant, Idjon Djanbi, was wounded in the DI/TII operation and was replaced by Maj. RE Djailani. Djailani was then replaced by Kaharuddin Nasution.
On December 12, 1966, RPAD became Pusat Pasukan Khusus AD or Puspassus (Center of Special Army Troops). On February 17, 1971 the regiment was renamed the Covert Warfare Forces Command (Kopassandha).
Finally, after a restructuring in ABRI, on December 26, 1986, it was renamed Komando Pasukan Khusus (Special Forces Command) it is commonly called Kopassus.
Until now, Kopassus has been led by 15 commandants. The first, second, and third were Maj. MI Djanbi, Maj. RE Djailani, Maj. Kaharuddin Nasution. The others, in order, were Maj. Mung (1958-1964) ; Col. Inf. Sarwo Edhie Wibowo (1964-1967); Brig.Gen. TNI Widjoyo Suyono; Brig. Gen. Witarmin; Col. Inf. Yogie SM (1975-1983); Col. Inf. Wismoyo Arismunandar (1983-1985); Col. Inf. Sintong Panjaitan (1985-1987; Brig. Gen. TNI Kuntara (1988-1992); Brig. Gen. TNI Tarub (1992-1993); Brig. Gen TNI Agum Gumelar (1994-1995). The last commandant, appointed on November 17, 1995 was also the fifth Kopassus Commandant.
On June 15, 1996, Kopassus was reorganized into five groups. Group 1, Parakomando, is led by Col. Inf. Syaiful Rizal and located in Serang, West Java. Group 2, Parakomando, in Kartasura, Central Java, is led by Col. Slamat Sidabutar. Group 3, Pusdik Passus, in Batujajar, West Java is led by Col. Inf. Suhartono Suratman. Group 4, Sandhi Yudha, in Cijantung is led by Col. Inf. Zamroni. Detachment 81, the anti-terrorist unit was integrated into these groups.
Looking at its record it is not an exaggeration to say that the troops have become the elite troop in ABRI. Much effort has gone into making it the > elite troop. Its organizational structure is continually being evaluated so it is not surprising that the troop has undergone important restructuring many times. When RPKAD became Kopassandha in 1971 it was reorganized into four groups. Groups I and III have battalion units. Groups II and IV have covert war units. Detachment 81, an anti-terrorist unit of 350 personnel was added in 1979. Its main operation was the Woyla aircraft hijacking on a domestic flight to Bangkok in 1981. All but one of the hijackers died in the operation. One of the ABRI troop died.
The Special Force proved a too great a load on the defense budget, and they were divided into two groups with 3500 personnel in 1986. In 1962, after the PRRI/Permesta campaign, the force was sent with other units to infiltrate Irian in support of the liberation campaign. They have been deployed there ever since, especially late 1983 and 1984, when the last major operations were mounted by the OPM.
The special forces also played a central role in operations against the Aceh Liberation Movement in 1976-78 and again in the late 1980s when the movement was rekindled. On December 1992 they shot dead the commander of the guard of the senior GAM political leader, and one of his followers.
They have been involved in East Timor from the beginning, at first conducting special operations to encourage integration with Indonesia, and then clandestinely recruiting, training, arming and leading anti-Fretilin forces in the Komodo Operation. When East Timor was invaded on December 7, 1975, the Special Forces were among the first forces into Dili, charged with securing the airport while marine and airborne forces secured town. They have played a continuing role there ever since, forming part of the airforce which hunted down Fretilin leader Lobato in December 1978, and in 1992 capturing Lobato's successor, Xanan Gusmao, who had been hiding in Dili, with some of his supporters.
According to Robert Lowry who wrote The Armed Forces of Indonesia, Kopassus in 1986 had about 35000 personnel. The number could have increased . Kopassus's main concern are the three areas which still have security problems namely, East Timor, Aceh and Irian Jaya.
MIS