Indonesia deploys 1,147 presidential security personnel for Independence Day events

JAKARTA — Indonesia's Presidential Security Detail, known as Paspampres, will deploy 1,147 personnel to secure a series of events marking the country's 81st Independence Day anniversary, its commander said on Monday.

Major General Edwin Adrian Sumantha led a readiness inspection of the security task force at Paspampres headquarters in Jakarta as preparations got underway for the national celebrations later this month.

The personnel will be assigned to several security units covering key events from Aug. 14 to Aug. 17, including a memorial ceremony, a parliamentary session and the main Independence Day flag-raising and lowering ceremonies.

Paspampres will deploy 151 personnel for the Aug. 14 Apel Kehormatan dan Renungan Suci, a national memorial ceremony, and 277 personnel for the Aug. 15 session of parliament.

A further 294 personnel will be assigned to the Aug. 17 flag ceremonies, while 205 personnel will secure a public celebration. Another 70 personnel will support the national flag-raising team and 150 will form part of the ceremonial forces.

Edwin said the security operation would take into account a changing threat environment, including the potential use of drones, cyberattacks and the spread of information that could trigger security disturbances.

"VVIP security must be carried out preventively and proactively by anticipating every potential threat from an early stage," Edwin said in remarks during the readiness ceremony.

Paspampres has also prepared tactical and operational equipment, including counter-drone capabilities, electronic jamming vehicles, CBRNE vehicles designed to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive threats, as well as other tactical and escort vehicles.

The force's preparations reflect a broader shift in the nature of threats to high-profile events, Edwin said, with potential risks extending beyond direct physical attacks.

"For Paspampres, success is not only when we manage to neutralize a threat, but when the threat never has an opportunity to emerge in the first place," he said.

Edwin urged personnel to maintain physical and mental readiness, improve technical capabilities and remain vigilant throughout the operation.

The annual Independence Day celebrations culminate on Aug. 17, when Indonesia marks the anniversary of its declaration of independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945.(Rus)