"The defense system has changed so that the old one should be revised," the TNI chief said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Chief Admiral Agus Suhartono said the state defense system must be adjusted to developments in present-day defense systems.

"As the supreme commander of the TNI, the president has directed us all to adjust the TNI doctrine to present developments," Agus Suhartono said after the closing of a joint TNI-Singapore Armed Forces/SAF Asean Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief Exercise 2011 in Depok, West Java, on Thursday.

He said that strategic and general defense policies in all forces, namely the Air Force, the Army and the Navy, of the TNI should be adjusted. This is because defense strategies and systems should follow present developments.

"The defense system has changed so that the old one should be revised," the TNI chief said in response to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono`s directives that asked the TNI to adjust itself to the present defense and pattern system.

On the occasion, the TNI chief closed the TNI-SAF exercise at the headquarters of the Infantry Division I of the Army`s Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad) in Cilodong, Depok West Java.

"We hope that this exercise which is initiated by both nations will have strategic impact on wider areas, namely at the ASEAN level and in other regions," the Indonesian TNI chief said.

He said it should be realized that the world was experiencing a global warming and climate change that caused natural disasters.

Agus said that in the handling of a natural disaster the military elements had always been ready to carry out fast, accurate and massive handling.

This is because military personnel are supported with relatively enough equipment, yet (the success) is inseparable from the people`s participation, he said.

"Disasters do not see the size (whether big or small) of a country. Therefore, the TNI and SAF conducted a joint exercise that will be made a model for other countries in the ASEAN region," he said.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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