TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commandant General of the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) Major General Agus Sutomo said he was formulating several formats for the planned armed forces (TNI)’s anti-terror squad. Agus said this was in response to Indonesian Armed Forces Commander General Moeldoko’s recent statement that he wanted to form an anti-terror squad similar to the police’s Special Detachment 88 (Densus 88) for the TNI.

“We could emulate the anti-terror squads in several nations that unite the navy, army, and air force” Agus told reporters in Sentul, Bogor, West Java on Tuesday, September 3, 2013.

He said the TNI planned to follow the format of the Singaporean military that combined the three forces. So, he added, the anti-terror squads from each force would be merged when deployed in an anti-terror operation.

He said the three elite squads comprised the Kopassus’ Satuan 81/Gultor (army), Detachment Bravo 90 of the Special Forces Corps (Paskhas-air force), and Detachment Jala Mengkara of the Marine Corps (navy).

“By the order of the president, the commandant general of the Kopassus will spearhead the joint squad,” Agus said.

Agus said he was upbeat the format was flexible and economical as the forces would only be combined in anti-terror operations.

“In peaceful situations, soldiers from the three forces will return to their units,” he said.

INDRA WIJAYA