TNI Commander Angry Air Force Members Step On The Heads Of People With Disabilities, Orders Danlanud-Dansatpom Merauke To Be Removed

JAKARTA - TNI Commander Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto ordered the Air Force Chief of Staff (KSAU) Marshal Fadjar Prasetyo to remove the Air Base Commander (Danlanud) Colonel Pnb Herdy Arief Budiyanto and the Military Police Unit Commander (Dansatpom) Johanes Abraham Dimara, Merauke.

This direct order was delivered in the aftermath of the violent acts carried out by two members of the Indonesian Air Force against civilians with disabilities to the point of stamping their heads.

"I have ordered the Air Force Chief of Staff to remove the Air Force Commander and his Sat POM AU Commander," Hadi said in his statement to reporters, Wednesday, July 28.

Marseekal Hadi even asked the Danlanud and Dansatpom of the Merauke Airbase to be immediately released from duty tonight.

"So I ask tonight to hand over (the position, ed) immediately. I ask tonight to have that opportunity," said Hadi.

This removal was done because both of them were unable to develop their members and were not sensitive to disabled civilians. Hadi also said that the violence that was being discussed on social media made him angry.

"(The reason for the dismissal, ed) is because they cannot nurture their members. Why are they not sensitive to treating disabilities like that. That makes me angry," he said.

As previously reported, a video circulated on social media showing the actions of two members of the Indonesian Air Force (TNI) stepping on the head and pressing the body of a man. The incident is said to have occurred in Merauke, Papua. The head of the Information Service of the Indonesian Air Force (Kadispenau) Marsma Indan Gilang Buldansyah said the disgraceful action of the two members was initiated by an argument between a speechless man and a stall owner. The reason, the man allegedly caused a riot because he was drunk.

For this incident, the Indonesian Air Force deeply regrets it and apologizes to all parties. Currently, the two Indonesian Air Force personnel have been detained.