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By APD Writer Maverick
JAKARTA, Oct. 5 (APD) — Indonesia paraded its latest military might and demonstrated skills of troops serving in several forces in a grand event to commemorate its 72nd military anniversary held in a seaport located Banten province on Thursday.
The military engaged tanks, combat vehicles, armaments, fighter jets, helicopters and submersibles in the parade in a move to show its latest force to the people and displayed aerobatic stunt acts carried out by air forces’ experienced pilots.
The military vehicles showed in the parade were produced by domestic and foreign producers, among others the bush master all-terrain troop carrier cars, the ATAV V6 operated by special forces of Kopassus, Marder, Arisgator, Tarantula and Leopard tanks and Anoa combat vehicles.
The armed forces showed its newly-acquired AH-64 Apache attack helicopter which seldom seen in public. It flew along with the forces’ Russian-made Mi-35 attack helicopters.
In the air, Indonesian air forces demonstrated the dogfight battle between Sukhoi 30 and F-16 fighter jets and showed a stunning aerobatic flight performed by the forces’ team of Jupiter.
More than 5,900 troops were engaged to take part in the annual military parade this year, performing daredevil military tactics and skills to the people and dignitaries attending the event.
Hundreds of them performed stunning self defense skills sourced from domestic martial arts of pencak silat both with weapons or barehand.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo who presided over the parade called on the military to stick together with the people and improving its cooperation with government and other institutions so as to remain vigilant to respond the looming internal and external threats that may stray the nation’s life philosophy of Pancasila and its unitary coexistence.
“We have to stay alert to respond the actual wars which now taking place in cultural and economy sectors in a free-trade era, coupled with rapid technology development at present,” President Widodo said in his remarks.
Since its declaration of independence in1945, Indonesia had never been escaped from internal and external threats aiming at straying Pancasila as well as the nation’s unitary coexistence, the president added.
President Widodo pointed out that a solid synergy between the military, people, government and all elements in the nation would further enhance stability in political and security sectors, essential elements to propel the nation’s economy.
“We have to deliver message to international community that Indonesia is stable. Synergy between those elements is essential to be well preserved and improved further,” he said.
In other part, the president also reminded the military to stay away from politics, keep abide by the constitution and keep up its loyalty only to the legitimate government and the people.
Meanwhile in his remarks, the Indonesian military commander General Gatot Noermantyo reaffirmed the military’s determent loyalty to the president, who was democratically elected by the people based on the constitution
At the end of the event, the military allowed people to get on board its tanks in a gesture to show their priority to protect the people and their gratitude for people’s supports.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
