The Military's 'Jekyll & Hyde' Unit
Born in the midst of upheaval, the Army’s Special Force (Kopassus) became an elite unit and a respected component of the Indonesian armed forces. Kopassus also has many facets: a reliable combat unit, a launch pad for a fast-track military career and an organization that is no stranger to continued accusations of human rights violations. What was Kopassus’ historical role and what is the future of the unit that celebrated its 49th anniversary last week?
April 24, 2001
Batujajar, West Java, before daybreak. A young man is jolted awake and hurries out of his room at 2am. The chilly air makes him shiver, but he forces himself to run. "Faster, faster, faster!" comes a harsh rebuke urging him onward. After a few meters, crash! He slams into a Land Rover. He is not yet fully awake. He stumbles momentarily and continues the morning exercise. A few people laugh at his mishap, but soon he soon rejoins his fri
...