Originally posted by SMAPLionHeart:
Sepertinya, jabatan Panglima Komando Operasi TNI AU II (Pangkoopsau II) tidak akan bisa dilupakan Marsekal Madya TNI Ian Santoso Perdanakusuma. Perihalnya, bertepatan dengan masa jabatannya, terjadi peristiwa bersejarah dalam ketatanegaraan Indonesia yaitu lepasnya propinsi termuda Timor Timur dari negara kesatuan. Berbagai friksi, politik dan militer, mengemuka. Ujung-ujungnya, hubungan Indonesia memanas dengan Australia.
It seemed that the Commando Operations Department of TNI AU II (Pangkoopsau II) will not be forgotten by Marshal Ian Santoso Perdanakusuma. It is during his term that the historic separation of East Timor from the Union of Indonesia. Political and military friction surfaced. It was the time when relations between Indonesia and Australia became heated up.
Kehadiran pasukan Interfet (International Force for East Timor) berintikan Australia yang dikirim PBB, memancing beragam persepsi. Sampai kontak senjata pecah dengan Polri/TNI di perbatasan. Kesabaran rakyat hampir habis, kedaulatan negara ditelanjangi, tapi tak kunjung seorangpun penguasa perang di negara ini membuat pernyataan yang membesarkan hati. Hingga suatu hari usai jajak pendapat, "If you cross our border, I'll shoot you down," jawab Pangkoopsau II Marsda TNI Ian Santoso (ketika itu) kepada komandan AU Interfet yang meminta izin untuk menerbangkan pembom-tempurnya F-111 Aardvark memasuki wilayah udara Indonesia (waktu itu). [/quote]
The presence of the Interfet (International Force for East Timor) lead by Australia which was sent by the UN, invited different perceptions. The people's patience nearly ran out, the country's sovereignty is in jeopardy, but still no army leader came forward to speak out for the nation with pride. Then one day, the then Pangkoopsau II Marsda TNI Ian Santoso said, "If you cross our border, I'll shoot you down", in reference to the Australian Interfet team who asked permission for its F-111 Aardvark planes to enter Indonesian airspace (East Timor was then still under Indonesian sovereignty).
Diakui Ian, walau sangat yakin Australia tidak akan menyerang Indonesia, gertakkannya bukan isapan jempol 12 jet tempur terdiri dari A-4 Skyhawk, Hawk-200, serta F-16 Fighting Falcon lengkap dengan puluhan rudal, radar dan alternated base disiapkannya. Bahkan, pesawat tanker KC-130 Hercules disiagakan di Malang untuk mendukung laju A-4 Skyhawk. "Karena yang saya gelar operasi udara strategis, bukan operasi pertahanan udara," kata Ian.
Ian admitted that although he's not confident that Australia will attack Indonesia, his statement is not to be seen as a joke, for he has prepared 12 fighter jets consisting of A-4 Skyhawks, Hawk-200s with F-16 Fighting Falcons complete with guided missiles, radar and alternated bases. In fact, the KC-130 Hercules tanker was based at Malang to support the A-4 Skyhawks. "It's because I called this a strategic air operations, not an air defence operations," Ian said.
Seberapa kuat daya gempur TNI AU saat itu? "Dua kali gempur. Saya yakin tidak akan ada yang ketiga, karena pasti sudah sama-sama habis," tutur putra pahlawan nasional Halim Perdanakusuma ini panjang lebar kepada Angkasa di kediamannya.
How strong is the attack level of the TNI AU at that time? "We had twice the normal level. I was confident that it won't be three times more because both sides would already suffer losses then," claimed the eldest son of the national hero Halim Perdanakusuma to Angkasa (magazine) at his home.
Dimata Ian, yang dilantik secara tertutup oleh Panglima TNI Laksamana TNI Widodo AS di Cilangkap (21/1) menjadi Kepala Badan Intelijen Strategis TNI (Ka Bais) menggantikan Jenderal Tyasno Sudarno, inti kekuatan pemukul militer sebenarnya ada pada penggelaran operasi gabungan. Karena kalau berdiri sendiri, akan terjadi gesekkan-gesekkan. "Kita tidak pernah saling lepas, tidak ada operasi mandiri, kecuali operasi strategis," tambahnya.
To Ian's eyes, who was picked discreetly by Admiral TNI Widodo AS in CIlangkap (21/1) to head the TNI's Strategic Intelligence Body (Ka Bais) replacing General Tyasno Sudarno, the core strength of the military attacking points lies with the support from other military departments. If TNI AU were to stand alone, there will be hiccups. "We have never acted alone, unless its a strategic operation," he added.
Namun Ian tidak setuju apabila harus dibentuk komando gabungan dalam sebuah departemen, lazimnya di Amerika dikenal gabungan kepala staf. Dijelaskanya, bukan berarti TNI buta dengan komando gabungan. "Rangka bangunnya sudah ada, akan segera dibentuk jika terjadi eskalasi," jelas Ian.
However Ian disagrees if there's a need to form a commanding alliance in a department, usually seen and known in the US as the Head of Staff Alliance. Explaining further, it does not mean TNI is completely ruling out the commanding alliance idea. "The plan has already been mapped out which will be immediately executed should the situation escalates even further," explained Ian.
Masalahnya, bagaimana persepsi ini harus dipahami bersama oleh segenap prajurit TNI. Harus ada kesetaraan antara ketiga angkatan. "Itu yang dituntut oleh TNI AU sebagai bagian integral TNI. Kalau ada yang mengatakan bahwa kita terkesan malu-malu, sebenarnya keliru. Kita bukan malu-malu, tapi hati-hati. Kita militer profesional," lanjut Ian. Paradigma itu yang ditunjukkannya, ketika menghadapi Interfet semasa menjabat Pangkoopsau II.
The problem is how this perception should be understood by everyone in the TNI. There must be equality between the three forces. "That is demanded by TNI AU as an integral part of the bigger TNI. If people were to sense that we are timid, then it will be confusing. We are not being timid but cautious. We are professionals," Ian added. The paradigma were shown when facing Interfet while holding the Pangkoopsau II post.
Karena nasionalismenya yang tinggi untuk menjaga kedaulatan bangsa itu pula, Ian sampai menggelar Operasi Badar di Lombok, akhir tahun silam. "Kita mau menunjukkan kepada rakyat, bahwa kita bisa perang, bahwa kita punya kebanggaan. We have still the power to fight, I can fight," tutur Ian.
Because his spirit of nationalism was high when protecting the country's sovereignty, Ian launched the Badar Operation in Lombok the past year. "We want to show to the Indonesians that we have the ability to go to war, that the Indonesians can be proud of. We have still the power to fight, I can fight," Ian said.
Sebagai perwira tinggi TNI AU, Ian juga dikenal dekat dengan berbagai kalangan. Profilnya yang bersahabat, terbuka, dan enak diajak diskusi, amat dikenal luas kalangan wartawan di kota Ujung Pandang. Masa itu, secara teratur, Ian selalu mengadakan open house bagi wartawan lokal untuk bertukar pikiran.
As a commanding officer in the TNI AU, Ian is also known by people from all walks of life. His friendliness, openness and the fact that he's easy to talk to, he's popularly known among the journalists here in Ujung Pandang City. At that time, Ian frequently held open houses for local journalists to gather and exchange ideas.
Sebelumnya, lulusan Akabri 1970 ini pernah menjadi Komandan Skadron 17 ((1987), atase pertahanan RI di KBRI Singapura (1991), Panglima Kosek Hanudnas I (1995), Widyaiswara Utama Bidang Strategi Lemhanas (1999), dan Komandan Seskoau (1999) sebelum menjadi Pangkoopsau II tanggal 15 Agustus 1999.
Previously, this Akabri 1970 graduate was once the Commander of the 17th Squadron (1987), the Indonesian Republic defence attaché at the Indonesian Embassy in Singapore (1991), Kosek Hanudnas I Commander (1995) and the Seskoau Commander (1999) before becoming the Pangkoopsau II on August 15th 1999.
Dari pengalamannya sebagai penerbang pesawat Hercules, Ian tidak pernah lupa ketika salah mendarat di Bandara Haneda, Jepang. Peristiwa lucu itu terjadi, gara-gara pihak Haneda tidak mencantumkan adanya landasan baru disamping landasan yang lama pada notam (notice to airman). Kesalahpahaman itu, menurut Ian, sampai disiarkan setiap hari pada televisi Jepang.
From his experience as a pilot of the Hercules, Ian could not forget the time he landed wrongly at Haneda Airport in Japan. The funny incident happened as a result of the lapse of the airport's authorities who did not notify him of the existence of a new runway on the Notice to Airman. The misunderstanding, as Ian claimed, was featured on local TV stations for days to come.
[quote]"Saya malu sekali, apalagi saya bawa Pak Beny (Pangab waktu itu)," kata orang Madura kelahiran Madiun 17 Juli 1948. "Pak Beny sampai ngamuk sama saya," jelas Ian ketawa. Menyinggung pelantikannya sebagai Ka Bais, Ian berkata singkat, "Ini anugerah terbesar bagi saya, sekaligus tantangan."(ben/avi) "I was utterly embarrassed by the whole thing, added to the fact that Pak Beny was on the plane at that time," said the Maduran who was born on July 17th 1948. "Pak Beny was obviously frustrated with me," Ian laughed. Touching on his appointment as Ka Bais, Ian said in short, "This is my biggest achievement, which is also a challenge."