Kopkamtib
Kopkamtib, an acronym for 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 the organisation was closed down. The succeeding organisation was 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
| Position | Name | Year | Year |
| Commander | General Suharto | 5 October 1965 | 19 November 1969 |
| Commander | General Maraden Panggabean | 19 November 1969 | 27 March 1973 |
| Commander | General Sumitro[4] | 27 March 1973 [5][6] | 28 January 1974 |
| Commander | General Suharto | 28 January 1974 | 17 April 1978 |
| Commander | Admiral R. Sudomo | 17 April 1978 | 29 March 1983 |
| Commander | General Leonardus Benjamin Moerdani | 29 March 1983 | 5 September 1988 |
Chiefs of Staff/ Deputy Commanders
| Position | Name | years |
| Deputy Commander | General Sumitro | 1969 to 1971 |
| Deputy Commander | Admiral R. Sudomo | 1973 to 1978 |
| Deputy Commander | Major General Daryatmo | 1978 [7] |
| Deputy Commander | General Yoga Soegama | 1978 to 1980 |
| Deputy Commander | General Wijoyo Suyono | 1980 to 1982 |
See also
Notes
- ↑ Ricklefs (1991), p. 287.
- 1 2 Ricklefs (1991), p. 296.
- ↑ 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
- ↑ McDonald (1980), p. 134
- ↑ McDonald |(1980), p. 134
- ↑ See also Ali Murtopo regarding their rivalry
- ↑ 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.