Jakarta, 31 August 2023 – Indonesia will host the 43rd ASEAN Summit from 5 to 7 September 2023 at the Jakarta Convention Center. A number of preparations have been made, one of which is anticipating potential disruptions during the event.
Based on their experience of providing security for the 42nd ASEAN Summit 2023 in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara, on 9—11 May 2023, the Indonesian National Army (TNI) is tasked with ensuring the security and smooth running of the Summit.
The event is to be attended by 11 leaders of ASEAN countries, 9 leaders or representatives of ASEAN dialogue partner countries, and 9 leaders representing international organizations. The TNI aims to maintain the security of summit participants, both leaders and delegates, from the moment they arrive at the arrivals entrance of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten, until they reach their accommodations and meeting location.
As many as 11 task forces will be deployed to ensure the success of the 43rd ASEAN Summit 2023, which will take place from 5—7 September 2023. These task forces include the VVIP and Regional Security Task Force, the Special Security Task Force, the Evacuation Task Force, the Cyber Task Force, the Intelligence Task Force, the Communications and Electronics Task Force, the Air Defense Task Force, the Marine Task Force, the Airport and Harbor Security Task Force, and the Information Task Force.
Vice Admiral TNI Erwin S. Aldedharma, Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command (Pangkogabwilhan) I, stated this when contacted in Jakarta on Thursday (31 August 2023). According to the graduate of the 37th class of the Naval Academy in 1991, his party had presented twice before the TNI Commander, Admiral TNI Yudo Margono, on 18 August 2023 and 25 August 2023, respectively.
"The commands of the TNI commander are crystal clear. As part of implementing security for the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023, the TNI must be able to perform this duty effectively, as it did at the previous ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo. The commander of the TNI hopes for cooperation with all task forces,” said the former commander of the First Western Fleet Command.
To secure the ASEAN Summit, the TNI Commander, said Admiral TNI Erwin, requested that Kogabwilhan I become the VVIP Joint Integrated Security Command (Kogabpadpam). The troops under Kogabpadpam I will be fully responsible for securing VVIP guests, such as the president, vice president and state guests at the level of head of state or head of government.
These troops will be equipped with the main weapons systems (alutsista), including Anoa bulletproof tactical vehicles (rantis), Super Puma and Apache AH-64 helicopters, and special vehicles (ransus) from the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Engineers Company (Kizi Nubika) of the Directorate of Army Engineers.
Security activities are set for nine days, from 1 September 2023 to 9 September 2023, which will be marked by a roll call for security forces at Monas Square, on Friday (1 September 2023). The security pattern will not differ significantly from that of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo in 2023.
Kogabpadpam VVIP must also create an emergency evacuation plan in the event that a threat arises during the summit. This was immediately simulated on Monday (28 August 2023) by the Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) at the VVIP Arrival Terminal at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Cengkareng, Banten. More than 50 Presidential Security Force (Paspampres) personnel in black uniforms representing various special units from each of the three TNI units demonstrated rescue simulations (matan) and airport evacuation of VVIP visitors.
Apart from that, multi-layered security efforts from this Korps Setia Waspada were also demonstrated for the motorcade of state guests from the moment they disembark until they arrived at their accommodations. Each car of a state guest received a full escort from two motorized troops and one mobile troop unit.
Every member of the escorting personnel will be equipped with a body-mounted camera (bodycam). A variety of standard Paspampres personal protection equipment was also prepared, including the most advanced organic armament, the 5.56 mm SS1-V5 assault rifle.
This 3.7-kilogram weapon is manufactured by PT Pindad for TNI special forces. The SS1-V5 has a firing range of 400 meters and is utilized for close combat in emergency situations. In a simulation, Paspampres also utilized bulletproof vehicles to rescue state visitors.
Chief of Naval Staff Admiral TNI Muhammad Ali revealed on Tuesday (29 August 2023), while witnessing the arts training activities of TNI Navy Women's Corps soldiers at the TNI Navy Sports Center, Cilangkap Navy Headquarters, Jakarta, that his party had received an order from the Commander of the Indonesian Armed Forces to alert the main weaponry system. According to him, they are all subordinate to a special task force.
"TNI Navy warships are prepared to circumnavigate Jakarta Bay and the Tanjung Priok Military Seaborne Command Pier concurrently with the commencement of security operations for the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023. Additionally, the TNI AL has deployed maritime patrol aircraft to assist in monitoring the waters for potential hazards. This is to ensure the success of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in 2023," the KSAL explained. (Anton Setiawan/Donna/TR)
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For more information, please contact:
Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).
Find more information at http://asean2023.id, https://infopublik.id/kategori/asean-2023, and https://indonesia.go.id/kategori/ragam-asean-2023
Photo caption: Members of the Presidential Security Force conduct a simulation of securing the heads of countries participating in the 43rd ASEAN Summit at Soekarno Hatta International Airport, Tangerang, Banten, Monday (28 August 2023). The simulation is to optimize security during the 43rd ASEAN Summit on 5—7 September 2023 in Jakarta. ANTARA FOTO/Muhammad Adimaja/tom