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pecial forces from the Indonesian Military's (TNI) Air Force, Army and Navy will hold their second joint exercise session Tuesday, ahead of two international conferences in May.

"The joint exercise is held not only to keep the special forces alert but to crush any terrorist activities in Indonesia," acting spokesman of the Marine Corps, Maj. Elfian Ranggawira said during a press conference on Sunday.

"It is also aimed at preparing for any terrorist threat during the World Ocean Conference and the Coral Triangle Initiative."

Elfian said the exercise would involve 98 operatives from the Bravo Detachment (Denbravo) of the Air Force's Special Forces, the 81st Anti-Terror Detachment of the Army Special Forces (Kopassus) and the Navy's Jala Mangkara Detachment (Denjaka).

Also attending the press conference was Capt. Johny Widodo of the Santiago Regional Military Command, which oversees North Sulawesi; Capt. Sartono of the Manado Naval Main Base and First. Lt. Supry from the Sam Ratulangi Air Force Base.

Elfian said the joint exercise would use all available equipment issued to the special forces including warships and submarines and that the exercise would be monitored directly by the TNI leaderships at its headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta.

The TNI chief of staff for general affairs will hold a press conference after the completion of the exercises.

Capt. Johny said the exercises will be take place in three separate locations. Kopassus will be in the Peninsula Hotel, Denjaka the Manado Convention Center and Denbravo the Sam Ratulangi Airport.

"It will start at 5 a.m. and last only one day," Johny said.

Meanwhile, Supry said the air force will deploy two C-130 Hercules transport aircraft, a helicopter and a special combat vehicle for the exercises.