KSAD Reveals Sabotage of Bailey Bridge Construction in Sumatra

JAKARTA - The Chief of Staff of the Indonesian Army (KSAD) General TNI Maruli Simanjuntak revealed an attempt to sabotage the construction of the bailey bridge currently being carried out by TNI soldiers together with the community in disaster-affected areas in Aceh, North Sumatra, and West Sumatra.

Maruli said that the soldiers knew about the sabotage on Sunday (28/12) morning. But Maruli did not mention the location of the bridge whose bolts were removed by unknown people.

"This is not just loosened, released! So the intention is already extraordinary. Later we will explore how far, but I think we better focus on how our work can serve the community, and can be maintained to be really safe for the community itself," said KSAD as reported by ANTARA, Monday, December 29.

Maruli revealed that there were actually several parties who reminded him to be aware of the threat of sabotage during the construction of the bailey bridge. The Cabinet Secretary (Seskab) Teddy Indra Wijaya is one of the people who reminded Maruli.

Maruli has also reminded his soldiers in the field to be aware of the threat of sabotage. However, Maruli admitted that he was skeptical, because at that time he could not imagine that people would behave like that in the midst of a disaster.

"We also didn't expect there to be so many people, frankly," said KSAD Maruli.

"So, even in this condition, there are still groups of people who want, it can be said that the direction (attack, ed.) to the government, (but) sacrificing the community, the community that is in a disaster wants to be sacrificed. So, frankly, I couldn't sleep last night, I thought about this, because I think, this many people, it's amazing," continued Maruli.

In addition, Maruli dismissed the accusation of sabotage as part of a conditioning effort by the authorities.

"Later, someone will say, oh this is intentional conditioning. If conditioning makes people die, it's not called conditioning. It's barbaric. So, these are real evidence, pity the victims. Don't let the victims' souls be victims again," said Maruli.