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Military command to train gangs in state defense program
Jakarta Post - June 4, 2016
The groups will participate in state defense training with the ninth regional military command (Kodam IX) Udayana, which will include an introduction to using firearms.
Kodam IX Udayana spokesman Col. Inf. J. Hotman Hutahaean told journalists on Friday that the training would be held in July at the Udayana military regiment area in Tabanan regency. "We are inviting gang members and members of mass organizations that have caused public concern, so that they will not harm society," Hotman said.
He said two of the mass organizations that would take part were Laskar Bali and Baladika, which have repeatedly clashed with one another, in hopes that the program would make them "good citizens".
During the two-week training, they will stay at the camp to learn about nationalism and discipline and undertake physical training. "I want to emphasize that this is not militarism," Hotman said.
If participants pass the program, the military command will give them state defense cards, which feature phone numbers of government officials and institutions in case they witness a security threat.
"If they see anything that could be a threat, they can report it straight away. For example, if a natural disaster occurs, they can immediately report it to us and we can immediately help people," Hotman said.
Hotman dismissed fears that the program would empower mass organizations and enable them to repress other people. "No, instead, they will realize that thuggery is not necessary. They will realize that state defense is more essential for our nation," he said.
Hotman said the main goal of the program was for participants to become useful members of society and be able to join defense forces in times of threat.
Baladika Bali deputy chairman I Bagus Jagra Wibawa welcomed the program, saying it would improve the capacity and knowledge of group members. "One of the purposes of our organization is to defend the unitary state of the Republic of Indonesia," he said, adding that between 50 to 100 Baladika members would participate in the drill.
"We know the program will be physically challenging. But it doesn't matter. We can learn a lot from the training," he said, mentioning that the organization had around 43,000 members across Bali.
Udayana University criminologist Gede Made Swardhana said he respected the idea of offering training to mass organization members, under certain conditions.
"If the program is only given to certain groups and does not encourage them to leave behind their groups' identity, it would strengthen them. They should put aside their attributes for the training," Swardhana said.
"The military command should conduct monitoring and controls after the training, to prevent them from using their state defense cards to strengthen their existence."
Clashes between mass organizations frequently occur in Bali, leading to unease among the community. As the two biggest rival mass organizations, Laskar Bali and Baladika Bali have clashed numerous times, causing several fatalities.
As reported earlier, a deadly clash between members of the two gangs occurred at Kerobokan prison in December. The fight was followed by another in downtown Denpasar, only two hours later. The December fights caused the deaths of four Baladika members.
In April, when 11 Laskar Bali members suspected of being involved in the December clashes were moved from police custody to Kerobokan prison, another riot broke out, causing damage to prison facilities.
During a trial in May on the December riots, yet another clash almost occurred as gang members gathered near the Denpasar District Court office. However, the fight was prevented as police seized sharp weapons from the groups.
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