Kopkamtib

Kopkamtib (Indonesian: Komando Operasi Pemulihan Keamanan dan Ketertiban or "Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order", was a secret police operation in Indonesia's "New Order" that continued issues arising from the transition to the New Order.

Origins of Kopkamtib

Following the killing of 6 top generals and failed "coup attempt", the surviving general, Suharto, accepted President Sukarno's order to take control of the army. Suharto's condition was that he be handed full authority to restore order and security, an arrangement that was formalised by creating Kopkamtib.[1]

The conflict between the forces of the military and their rivals the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI), had predated the setting up of the organisation. The formation of Kopkamtib was a legitimisation of military and the New Order governments determination to organise the liquidation of the PKI and its related organisations.

By 1968 the PKI was no longer seen as a credible threat to military power, Kopkamtib's role as the New Order's main security apparatus remained, as did its surveillance of citizens.[2] Kopkamtib played and important role in ensuring Golkar victory in the 1971 general elections. The organisation screened candidates and disqualifying about 20 per cent for political reasons.[2]

Later and post Suharto era

In September 1988, Suharto closed down the organisation. The succeeding organisation was Badan Koordinasi Bantuan Pemantapan Stabilitas Nasional /Bakorstanas which lasted until March 2000, when it was dismantled by the government of the Reform era.

Deputy Commanders were also known as Chief of Staff of the organisation [3]

Commanders

PositionNameYearYear
CommanderGeneral Suharto5 October 196519 November 1969
CommanderGeneral Maraden Panggabean19 November 196927 March 1973
CommanderGeneral Sumitro[4]27 March 1973 [5][6]28 January 1974
CommanderGeneral Suharto28 January 197417 April 1978
CommanderAdmiral R. Sudomo17 April 197829 March 1983
CommanderGeneral Leonardus Benjamin Moerdani29 March 19835 September 1988

Chiefs of Staff/ Deputy Commanders

PositionNameyears
Deputy CommanderGeneral Sumitro1969 to 1971
Deputy CommanderAdmiral R. Sudomo1973 to 1978
Deputy CommanderMajor General Daryatmo1978 [7]
Deputy CommanderGeneral Yoga Soegama1978 to 1980
Deputy CommanderGeneral Wijoyo Suyono1980 to 1982

See also

Notes

  1. Ricklefs (1991), p. 287.
  2. 1 2 Ricklefs (1991), p. 296.
  3. Dijk, Kees van, (2001) A country in despair : Indonesia between 1997 and 2000 Leiden : KITLV Press. Verhandelingen van het Koninklijk Instituut voor Taal-, Land- en Volkenkunde ; 186. ISBN 90-6718-160-9. - Appendix D - 'Some key military functions since the 1980s p. 553
  4. McDonald (1980), p. 134
  5. McDonald |(1980), p. 134
  6. See also Ali Murtopo regarding their rivalry
  7. See Third Development Cabinet for his resignation of this position

References

  • McDonald, Hamish (1980). Suharto's Indonesia. Melbourne: Fontana. ISBN 0-00-635721-0.
  • Ricklefs, M. C. (1991). A History of Modern Indonesia since c.1300, Second Edition. MacMillan. ISBN 0-333-57690-X.

Further reading

  • (1977) The role and function of KOPKAMTIB : (the Operational Command for the Restoration of Security and Order) in the national security system Jakarta : KOPKAMTIB, (9 page pamphlet)
  • (In Indonesian) Sudomo (1982) Kebijaksanaan Kopkamtib dalam penanggulangan ekstremitas kiri Laksamana TNI Sudomo Jakarta : Sekretariat Komando Operasi Pemulihan Keamanan dan Ketertiban, 1982.
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