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TNI launches counterterrorism squad
Jakarta Globe - June 9, 2015
TNI commander Gen. Moeldoko inaugurated the special unit, named the TNI Joint Special Operations Command, or Koopsusgab, on Tuesday. Moeldoko said Koopsusgab was prepared to fight any act of terrorism that threatened Indonesian sovereignty and would protect civilians.
"They are ready to fight terrorism at any second," he told news portal Kompas.com on Tuesday. "We will face any source of terrorism, whether Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State now, that threatens the country.
"If Bali is threatened, for example, we will directly move there. We will focus on areas prone to acts of terrorism."
Koopsusgab will be stationed in Sentul, West Java, and will comprise of 81 trained counterterrorism personnel from the Army, the Navy's special forces (Denjaka) and the Air Force's Bravo 90 special forces unit.
Indonesia's counterterrorism has until now been handled by the National Police's elite Densus 88 unit, which has had considerable success in combatting terrorism in Indonesia.
In March, the National Police announced an agreement had been signed with the TNI to help train young military officers in terrorism prevention and boost ties between the two organizations.
It is not yet clear how Koopsusgab and Densus 88 will work together to fight terrorism.
Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/armed-forces-start-counterterrorism-squad/.
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