Sakina Rakhma Diah Setiawan, Jakarta – Greater Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) chairperson Prabowo Subianto attended a friendly gathering and reunion of retired Red Beret (Kopassus Special Forces) officers at the Ciracas Sports Centre in Jakarta on Saturday July 7.
During the event the retired Kopassus officers expressed their support for Prabowo in the 2019 presidential election.
Organising committee chairperson Wardiman said that the officers greatly valued Prabowo’s attendance at the reunion which was ‘fired up’ by Prabowo’s presence.
“The presence of Bapak [Mr Prabowo] in our midst maintains our spirit, [the enthusiasm] of retired military officers”, said Wardiman in his greetings to the event.
Representing the retired Kopassus officers, retired Lieutenant General Yayat Sudrajat took the opportunity to say that the current situation facing the country is of concern. This can be seen from many different aspects.
Because of this therefore, change is needed to improve the situation. Moreover, Sudrajat called on the retired Kopassus officers to support Prabowo as a candidate in the 2019 presidential election.
“Let us change the president in 2019, bring down the white-snouted black bull [the symbol of President Joko Widodo’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle], let us elect our national leadership in the context of a national and global strategy, [one that is] capable and courageous”, said Sudrajat.
Prabowo arrived at the reunion at 9.45am, which was attended by more than 500 people representing members of the Fighters of the Greater Indonesia Retired Military Officers (Purnawirawan Pejuang Indonesia Raya, PPIR) which is affiliated with the Gerindra Party.
Prabowo himself is a former army officer whose military and educational career spanned 28 years. In 1994 Prabowo held the post of Kopassus Deputy Commander. Then in 1995-1996 he became the commander of Kopassus and in 1996-1998 the Kopassus General Commander.
Notes
- Although it is not mentioned in the article, pictured sitting on the stage with Prabowo in the accompanying image is Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) president Said Iqbal whose union officially declared its support for Prabowo’s presidential election bid on May Day this year.
- According to a report by the Commission for Truth and Friendship of Indonesia and Timor Leste (CTF) from 2005 to 2008, in 1998 former military intelligence commander Lieutenant Colonel Yayat Sudrajat was one of the military officers involved in the formation of the East Timor pro-integration militia groups.
[Translated by James Balowski. The original title of the article was Reuni Akbar Kopassus Jadi Ajang Dukungan ke Prabowo.]
