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Army modernizes weapons to strengthen border security
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Then Indonesian Military (TNI) commander Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo (right) shakes hands with Army chief of staff Gen Mulyono, after a transfer of office ceremony on July 15. Mulyono replaced Gatot, who was promoted to TNI commander. (tempo.co/Imam Sukamto)
T
he Indonesian Army is prioritizing the modernization of the country's primary weaponry defense system for Army personnel guarding border areas.
The modernization aims to strengthen defense against current threats on the country's borders, including in four outer islands, namely Natuna (Riau Islands), Morotai (North Maluku), Biak (Papua), and Selaru (Southeast Maluku), said Army chief of staff Gen. Mulyono on Wednesday.
"Our priority is to provide [modern] weapons to the Army's Special Forces and particularly Army riders who guard the border areas," Mulyono told journalists.
Speaking at an event with Indonesian media, Mulyono explained that the Army's priority programs in 2016 were mainly aimed at strengthening the country's defense against both international and national threats.
In the international scope, the efforts aimed to prevent another hostage situation in regional waters, as well as to step up defense against escalating tensions in the South China Sea, which affected the country's exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in Natuna waters, Mulyono said.
Meanwhile in the national scope, the Army aims to enhance defense capability to tackle drug smuggling, to face separatism cases such as in Papua, as well as to improve defense against terrorism threats, Mulyono added. (bbn)
