| Komando Pasukan Khusus | |
|---|---|
Shoulder insignia and patch worn by the Kopassus. |
|
| Active | April 16, 1952 – Present |
| Country | Indonesia |
| Branch | Indonesian Army |
| Type | Special Forces |
| Role | Group 1 & 2 -Special Operation forces, Jungle warfare, Unconventional Warfare, Counter-Insurgency,Special Reconnaissance, Direct Action Group 3 - Combat Intelligence Group 4 - Training Group 5, Also known as SAT-81 Gultor - Counter Terrorism |
| Size | Five regiments |
| Part of | Indonesian National Armed Forces Tentara National Indonesia (Indonesian) |
| Garrison/HQ | Batu Jajar , West Java |
| Nickname | Kopassus |
| Motto | Berani, Benar, Berhasil (English= Brave, Right, Success) |
| Colors | Red beret |
| Engagements | Local rebellions 1950s Western New Guinea 1961–1962 Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation 1963–1966 Coup attempt and massacres 1965 East Timor military campaign (Seroja Operation) 1975 The Hijacking of Garuda Flight GA 206 (Woyla Operation) 1981 See the operations for details |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander |
See the List of Kopassus Commanders |
Kopassus (a portmanteau of "Komando Pasukan Khusus" or "Special Forces Command") is an Indonesian Army special forces group that conducts special operations missions for the Indonesian government, such as direct action, unconventional warfare, sabotage, counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, and intelligence gathering. Kopassus was founded on April 16, 1952. It is gaining worldwide attention after the successful hostage release operation of Garuda Indonesia Flight 206.
The Special Forces quickly made their mark by spearheading some of the government's military campaigns: putting down regional rebellions in the late 1950s, the Western New Guinea campaign in 1961-1962, the confrontation with Malaysia from 1962–1966, the massacres of alleged communists in 1965, the East Timor invasion in 1975, and the subsequent campaigns against separatists throughout Indonesia.
Kopassus is alleged by external media and human rights-affiliated NGOs to have committed violations of human rights in East Timor, Aceh and Papua and the capital Jakarta.
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On April 15, 1952, Colonel Alexander Evert Kawilarang laid the foundation for Kesatuan Komando Tentara Territorium III/Siliwangi (Kesko TT), the early name of Kopassus.
The impetus for building this special force was provided from an experience of frustration when fighting against the troops of the RMS (Republik Maluku Selatan or Republic of the South Moluccas) forces, who were supported by two companies of Dutch Korps Speciale Troepen (KST). The Indonesians were amazed and hampered by KST's sniper ability and skills- which the Indonesian armed forces at the time did not possess. They were then inspired to build a similar force for Indonesia. However, at that time, there were no Indonesian commanders with necessary experience nor skills in special operations. However, Lieutenant Colonel Slamet Riyadi would not see his dream realized due to his death in a battle against the troops of the separatist RMS.
Not long after, Colonel Kawilarang with the use of military intelligence located and met with Major Rokus Bernardus Visser - a former member of the Dutch Special Forces who had remained a peaceful and law-abiding citizen in newly independent Indonesia, settled in West Java, married an Indonesian woman, and was known locally as Mohamad Idjon Djanbi. He was the first recruit for the Indonesian special forces, as well as its first commander. Due to him, the unit later to become Kopassus adopted the distinctive Red Beret similar to that of the Dutch Special Forces.
At that time, Indonesia's special force name was Third Territorial Command: Komando Teritorium Tiga (KTT). Kopassus was the final result of five name changes: KTT, KKAD, RPKAD, and Kopasandha. The first generation of this force was only around a hundred soldiers or one company, headquartered in Bandung.
As RPKAD (Resimen Para Komando Angkatan Darat), a name used in the 1960s, the para-military force was involved in the wide-spread killings[1] during Gen. Suharto's rise to power. An estimated half-a million people were killed in the anti-communist purge with strong communal overtones.
RPKAD was involved in wiping out entire villages such as Kesiman (east of Denpasar) in Bali, many of them in beach areas which are major tourist resorts today[2]
The unit also saw action during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation when in 1965, Indonesia launched a war for control of N Borneo (Sabah/Sarawak) during Malaysian independence, particularly in the Battle of Sungei Koemba.
Kopassus is currently led by Commandant General or DanJen, who holds the rank of Major General. Below is a list of commanders who have led the special forces.
| Name | Year | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Major Moch. Idjon Djanbi (Rokus Bernadus Visser) | 1952-1956 | Led from Kesatuan Komando Tentara Territorium III/Siliwangi (Kesko TT) till RPKAD |
| Major R.E. Djaelani | 1956-1956 | - |
| Major Kaharuddin Nasution | 1956-1958 | - |
| Major Mung Parahadimulyo | 1958-1964 | - |
| Colonel Sarwo Edhie Wibowo | 1964-1967 | RPKAD to Puspassus TNI-AD |
| Brigadier General Widjoyo Suyono | 1967-1970 | - |
| Brigadier General Witarmin | 1970-May 1975 | 1971 Puspassus TNI-AD to Kopassandha |
| Brigadier General Yogie SM | May 1975-April 1983 | - |
| Brigadier General Wismoyo Arismunandar | April 1983-May 1985 | - |
| Brigadier General Sintong Panjaitan | May 1985-August 1987 | Kopassandha to Kopassus |
| Brigadier General Kuntara | August 1988-July 1992 | - |
| Brigadier General Tarub | July 1992-July 1993 | - |
| Brigadier General Agum Gumelar | July 1994-September 1995 | - |
| Brigadier General Subagyo HS | September 1995-December 1995 | - |
| Major General Prabowo Subianto | December 1995-March 1998 | August 1996 Brigadier General to Major General |
| Major General Muchdi PR | March 1998-May 1998 | - |
| Major General Syahrir MS | 1998-2000 | - |
| Major General Amirul Isnaini | 1 June 2000-2002 | - |
| Major General Sriyanto | 2002-15 February 2005 | - |
| Major General Syaiful Rizal | 15 February 2005-2006 | - |
| Major General Rasyid Qurnuen Aquary | August 2006-September 2007 | - |
| Major General Soenarko | 4 September 2007-1 July 2008 | - |
| Major General Pramono Edhie Wibowo | 1 July 2008- 3 December 2009 | - |
| Major General Lodewijk Freidrich Paulus | 4 December 2009- |
Kopassus has been accused by numerous NGO's and Western politicians of human rights violations. Amnesty International and KOMNAS HAM (Indonesian human rights groups) have cited alleged abuses by purported members of Kopassus.
Four members of Kopassus were convicted of the strangulation killing of Theys Eluay, the former chairman of the Papuan Presidium Council. After admitting the killing after ambushing him and his driver, two received prison sentences of three and a half years and two others received just three years.[3]
As TNI members, the Kopassus are/were legally exempt from civil law jurisdiction trial and a military inquiry found them innocent of all charges. The principal members of the alleged murder were all of Group V (Jakarta) and not based in Jayapura nor West Papua, and the "supposed ring-leader Let-Col Hatono got three and a half years jail and two other officers were not even discharged. The ruling Jakarta perspective on the murder was affirmed by army Chief Ryamizard Ryacudu: "accepted the men had to face sentence because Indonesia is a State based on law. However he said the men are heroes to kill a rebel leader. Defense lawyers who are appealing the verdicts, have also described the alleged killers as heroes"[4]
Kopassus members have also been reported by eyewitness accounts to have been involved in carrying and supervising the Jakarta May 1998 riot and the mass gang-rape and murder of Chinese Indonesian women and girls. [5]
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