Soldiers Involved In The 79th Anniversary Of The Republic Of Indonesia At IKN, TNI Prepares Hercules And Boeing

JAKARTA - Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Marshal TNI Mohammad Tonny Harjono said his party had prepared Boeing and Hercules transport aircraft to escort soldiers to the 79th Indonesian Independence Day ceremony in the capital city of Nusantara (IKN), East Kalimantan (Kaltim) on August 17, 2024.

"We are preparing because there will be quite a lot of movement from Jakarta to Balikpapan," said Tonny when met in the Halim Perdanakusuma area, East Jakarta, Thursday, August 1, which was confiscated by Antara.

Tonny explained that his party provided Boeing 737 aircraft, Boeing 400, Hercules type H and type J. The plane will take soldiers to Indonesian Air Force officials to Dhomber Air Base (Lanud), Balikpapan as the nearest air base from IKN.

Tonny also did not explain when his party began to deliver troops to IKN. He also did not explain in detail how many planes would be deployed in the operation.

"We are on orders. But we are alert all planes, if there is an order we are ready to support it," said Tonny.

Previously, the Chief of General Staff (Kasum) of the TNI Lt. Gen. Bambang Ismawan said that around 800 TNI soldiers were deployed to become officers for the 79th Indonesian Independence Day ceremony at IKN on August 17, 2024.

He explained that the number of soldiers assigned followed the needs and situation at IKN, which is currently still in the development stage.

"This is very dynamic, indeed for the August 17 ceremony it will be divided into two, some at IKN, some at the Palace in Jakarta. To be sure there are around 800 for ceremonies there (IKN, ed.)," said Kasum TNI in response to ANTARA's question during a press conference on the sidelines of an event at the TNI Headquarters, Cilangkap, Jakarta 30 July.

He continued that apart from being involved as a ceremonial officer, TNI soldiers would also be on standby at IKN for security. "Security is our main task, because the President and the Elected President will be at IKN, we are securing VVIP, according to our standards," he said.

For the units involved in the security, Bambang has not been able to mention in detail, but one of them is the ranks of Army soldiers from Kodam VI/Mulawarman based in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan.