JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Army Chief of Staff (KSAD) General Gatot Nurmantyo has dismissed Bukit Barisan Military Command chief Maj. Gen. Winston P Simanjuntak and Batam Military District Chief Lt. Col. Josef Tarada Sidabutar following a clash between members of the Police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and members of the Infantry Battalion in Batam, Kepulauan Riau, last week.
Minister of Defense General (ret) Ryamizard Ryacudu explained that the dismissal is accordance with the directive from President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The former Army Chief of Staff said the President does not want the same incident reoccurred in the future.
As reported earlier, dozens of army officers from the 134 Tuah Sakti (134TS) Infantry Battalion fired the headquarters of the Batam Police Mobil Brigade (Mako Brimob) on Nov after members of both units involved in an altercation earlier that day. An army soldier died during the shooting incident.
The government said a thorough evaluation is needed over the fatal shooting. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)