Indonesian armament exhibition held at National Monument
Jumat, 12 Desember 2014 19:50 WIB | 581 Views
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Armys primary weapons defense systems exhibition is being organized at the National Monument complex, Jakarta, on December 12-15, to commemorate the 69th anniversary of the Indonesian Armys day of struggle.
Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General M. Munir, on behalf of Army Chief of Staff Gatot Nurmantyo, inaugurated the exhibition here on Friday.
"Through this event, we hope that the closeness shared between the Indonesian Army and the society becomes more solid. History is testament to the fact that the unity between soldiers and the society proved to be an unrivaled strategy in the implementation of the civil defense concept," Munir noted in his remark on behalf of the army chief of staff.
Around 200 manufacturers of primary weapons defense systems are showcasing their weaponry for infantry, cavalry, field artillery, and air defense.
Moreover, the public can also catch a glimpse of the Leopard tank, helicopters, and Anoa Panser tank, among several others at the exhibition, which is free of cost for the visitors.
Companies such as PT Pindad, PT Saba Wijaya Persada, and PT LEN, are participating in the exhibition, which is also expected to showcase modernized armament and weaponry used by the Indonesian Army to guard and maintain national sovereignty.
Besides these attractions, visitors can also obtain information regarding the requirement procedures to be followed for those keen on joining the Army.(*)
Indonesian armament exhibition held at National Monument - ANTARA News
Christmas, momentum for Jokowi to find solution to Papua issue
Jumat, 12 Desember 2014 09:51 WIB | 796 Views
Thaha Alhamid. (ANTARA)
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Secretary general of the Presidium of the Papua Council (PDP) Thaha Alhamid said Christmas is a good momentum for President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) to discuss and find peaceful solution to Papua issue.
"The Christmas momentum is the right time for President Jokowi to present his way of settling the Papua issue peacefully, persuasively and elegantly," Thaha Alhamid said here on Friday.
He was commenting on a planned visit of President Jokowi to Papua to attend a joint national Christmas celebrations to be held in this Papua capital city.
He said he was concerned with the fact that most reports about Papua have been about violence.
"President Jokowi, should not come to Papua only to commission markets , attend Christmas celebrations, etc. But he should address the long unsettled problem besetting Papua since 1961," he said.
He said he was impressed by Jokowis statement last August saying that a big part of the problem of Papua was caused by wrong perception of Papua by those in Jakarta (the central government).
Jokowi made the statement when he visited Papua in August as a president elect, Thaha said.
"This is interesting. The statement was promising and gave new hope for the people of Papua," he said.
Thaha said on that occasion he took the opportunity to propose to Jokowi that when the former Jakarta governor took power as the new president of Indonesia, the first thing to do is to change the perception of Jakarta about Papua.
"As long as the people of Papua are seen as enemies, separatists, stupid , lazy and drunkards, there would be no solution to the problem," he said.
He said when Jokowi visits Papua he should meet the people and talk with them naturally.
"Christmas is full of peace, dont scare the people with armored cars and heavy military guards every where. Give room for the people to meet their president," he added.
Thaha also asked President Jokowi to release from jail all political detainees and reactivate the Law on Special Autonomy related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
"If all this (the recommendations) could be accepted and implemented, the people of Papua would have the confidence in the president," he said, adding,"Promises would not solve anything."
President Jokowi is scheduled to attend the Christmas celebration at the Sentani airport of Jayapura on Dec 27, 2014.
He also is to commission a number of traditional markets and visit Wamena to meet a number of Papuan leaders.
(Uu.H-ASG/O001)
Christmas, momentum for Jokowi to find solution to Papua issue - ANTARA News