76th Anniversary; TNI to Exhibit 112 Weapon Systems around Merdeka Palace

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Military (TNI) planned to show off 112 primary weapons systems (alutsista) as part of its 76th-anniversary celebrations on October 5 around Jakarta Merdeka Palace, precisely along Jalan Merdeka Barat, Jalan Merdeka Selatan, and Jalan Merdeka Utara.

“The exhibition of the defense system aims at showing the current TNI power and as a report to the President and the public that the budget given by the government for TNI is used to procure alutsista in order to maintain the sovereignty of Indonesia,” said the military’s spokesman Marine Colonel Edys Riyanto in a written statement received on Sunday, October 3.

On Sunday, Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eko Margiyono and Lt. Gen. Bambang Suswantono and staffers attended the rehearsal of the military’s anniversary celebration in Merdeka Palace.

The ceremony will be held in a modest fashion by applying strict health protocols given the continuing COVID-19 pandemic situation. According to Edys, the number of personnel on duty will also be limited to 28.

Other than showing off the weapons systems, the TNI also planned to conduct an air parade involving 18 fighter aircraft and eight helicopters under the Trimatra flight call sign carrying the national flag of Merah Putih and the TNI’s flag across the Jakarta sky.

Read: DPR on Alleged Infiltration of PKI Ideology in TNI: Need In-depth Study

ANTARA