The TNI commander claimed to have made good preparations to secure the 2014 general elections.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Commander of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) Moeldoko will set up anti-riot troops to help secure the legislative and presidential elections in 2014.

"In terms of hardware, we actually already have an anti-riot force which the military soldiers have not got accustomed to as yet. So, we will train them again to prepare them in case they are needed," Moeldoko stated when seeing off TNIs Garuda Military Contingent (Konga) XX-K to Congo here on Tuesday.

The TNI commander claimed to have made good preparations to secure the 2014 general elections.

He stated he had also communicated to stakeholders, including National Police Chief General Sutraman, the procedures that had to be followed in 2014.

In support of the assignment of the anti-riot troops, each of the soldiers will be equipped with a complete anti-riot device, beginning from attire, shields to other supportive equipment.

On the occasion, the military commander reiterated that the TNI soldiers did not take part in practical politics.

"I have stressed on every occasion that the military personnel should adopt absolute neutrality in politics. Superiors and subordinates who violate my order will face hard actions," he emphasized.

He added that military commandants had conveyed the TNI chiefs order to their subordinates. Military personnel would, thus not be involved in politics because it will mar the good name of the TNI in the eyes of the people.

Moeldoko, on Tuesday, saw off 175 military personnel grouped in the Garuda Contingent XX-K (Konga XX-K) assigned to carry out peacekeeping mission for one year in Congo.

The Indonesian KONGA XX-K will team up the UNs Mission de IOrganisation de republic des Nation Unies Pour la Stabilisation en Republique Democratique du Congo (MONUSCO) in carrying out their mission in that country.

Acting as the inspector of the ceremony to see off the contingent, the TNI commander stated that the dispatch of the 175 soldiers was to replace TNIs Konga XX-J/MONUSCO Task Force that will end its service in Congo at the end of this month (December).

He added that the 175 personnel of Konga XX-K consisted of 148 Army officers, 18 from the Navy, 5 from the Air Force, and 4 from the TNI headquarters. The Konga XX-K Task Force is chaired by Major Nurdihin Adi Nugroho of the Mulawarman Regional Military Command VI.

"They will depart on Tuesday night (Dec. 31) and will carry out their peace mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo," Moeldoko noted.

The TNI Commander explained that Konga XX-K/MONUSCO will work on road maintenance from Dungu to Ngilima, routine maintenance of the Dungu Runway, the construction of a helipad hangar, the asphalting of a taxi way and the repair of the 140 km Dungu-Faradje road.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2013