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TNI confirms no danger for Bali bombings anniversary
Andra Wisnu , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Fri, 10/10/2008 10:55 AM | Bali
As the anniversary of the 2002 Bali bombings draws near, the Indonesian Military (TNI) has said the island remains safe, citing robust intelligence reports confirming there is no serious threat.
Maj. Gen. Hotmangaradja Pandjaitan, Udayana Military Territory commander, said there had been no intelligence report suggesting the island was at any risk, and civil activities and tourism in Bali could continue as normal.
However, he said the TNI would remain vigilant because Bali will host several important international and national events in October, such as the Asian Beach Games and the remembrance of the 2002 Bali bombings.
"Even if there is an attempt to sabotage our nation's security, we're prepared to deal with it," Hotmangaradja said during the TNI's 63rd anniversary ceremony at Banjar Sandi monument in Denpasar on Thursday.
On Oct. 12, the island community will commemorate the 2002 Bali bombings, which took the lives of 202 people, most of whom were foreign tourists, in the popular tourist area of Kuta.
From Oct. 18 to 26, Bali will host the Asian Beach Games, which will be attended by more than 3,000 national figures and international delegates, including Middle Eastern royal families.
According to game officials, 1,969 police personnel and 1,000 soldiers will be on guard during the event.
Bali Police spokeswoman Adj. Sr. Comr. Sri Harmiti added the island had a further 7,000 army personnel ready for security.
"As in accordance with existing safety standards, we're ready to go all out in securing Bali, from its entrance gates to numerous other locations," she said.
Meanwhile, the ceremony for the TNI's 63rd anniversary ran smoothly.
The event, attended by newly installed governor Made Mangku Pastika and Bali's Provincial Representatives Council Speaker Ida Bagus Wesnawa, acknowledged a military that is currently working with its recently reformed status.
Since the Soeharto regime, the TNI has undergone dramatic reforms, including the stripping of its guaranteed seats in parliament and the surrendering of its businesses to the government.
During Soeharto's reign, the TNI retained much of its business model, which dated back to the struggle for independence from The Netherlands in the 1940s when the Army was forced to finance itself via legal and illegal means, creating the corrupt culture that characterized much of the New Order era.
The new status has created a military that may be too poor to defend the nation.
The Defense Ministry has publicly complained about the low budget allocated to national defense, which by next year will stand at US$3.6 billion (Rp 33.1 trillion), to be divided between the Defense Ministry, the Navy, the Air Force and the Army.
Hotmangaradja said the TNI could still secure the nation with its current equipment. However, he warned that the Army was a long way from competing with other nations in terms of military prowess.
"If the nation's condition suddenly calls for a sudden need for modern armaments, I think we would still need a lot of time to be able to provide that," Hotmangaradja said.
"So we're focusing our training on other sectors instead."
