Cari English The Baturaja Inscription Reveals Minanga, the Key to Unlocking the Mystery of Sriwijaya's Beginnings TEKS › English›The Baturaja Inscription.. Iklan The Baturaja Inscription Reveals Minanga the Key to Unlocking the Mystery of Sriwijaya's Beginnings The Baturaja inscription tries to lift the veil on the location of Minanga which has become an endless debate among experts Audio Berita This article has been translated using AI. See Original Please note that this article was automatically translated using Microsoft Azure AI, Open AI, and Google Translation AI. We cannot ensure that the entire content is translated accurately. If you spot any errors or inconsistencies, contact us at hotline@kompas.id and we'll make every effort to address them TEKS KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAHThe Baturaja inscription on display at the Sriwijaya Royal Tourist Park Museum (TWKS) Palembang Minanga, a word that describes an ancient place in the era of the Sriwijaya Kingdom as stated in the fourth of the 10 lines of writing in the Kedukan Bukit Inscription. Because of Minanga, the long debate regarding the location of Sriwijaya's beginnings has not ended until now the mystery surrounding Minanga's location began to find clarity when the Baturaja Inscription was successfully identified by archaeologists the Baturaja Inscription further strengthens the legitimacy of Palembang as the region that once served as the capital of the maritime-themed kingdom Also read: Palembang, Between Public Doubts and Archaeological Findings of the Srivijaya Chiefdom "The Baturaja inscription is a puzzle piece that completes the chronological history of Sriwijaya The inscription explains why the story in the Kedukan Bukit inscription occurred Minanga is located in Komering (Ogan Komering Ulu Timur) the assumption that Sriwijaya originated from South Sumatra becomes stronger," said archaeologist from the Prehistoric and Historical Archaeological Research Center of the National Innovation Research Agency during the Coordination Meeting for the Preparation of the Search and Rescue of Sriwijaya Maritime Archives in Palembang Wahyu stated that the existence of the Baturaja Inscription was first known from residents who reported that someone was collecting stones believed to be inscriptions in Baturaja it turned out that the stone was indeed an inscription and was eventually bought to be saved and studied The content and translation of the Baturaja Inscription on display at the Sriwijaya Kingdom Tour Museum (TWKS) in Palembang Referring to data from the Sriwijaya Kingdom Tourist Park Museum (TWKS) in Palembang that stores and displays the collection the Baturaja Inscription is a collection of Amiril Mukmin He obtained the inscription when purchasing an antique chair from a collector in 2005 the first discoverer and origin of the inscription are not known for certain the Baturaja inscription has been split into several parts The part that was found is the core or middle part while the top and a small part of the bottom are missing The part that was found measures 24 centimeters in height with a top width of 26 cm and a bottom width of 20 cm while the bottom diameter is divided into two parts The inscription is made of andesite stone commonly found in the river area Also read: Search for Sriwijaya Maritime Archives Begins Immediately to Strengthen the Nation's Collective Memory Wahyu explained that the Baturaja Inscription provides very valuable clues to find out the beginning of Sriwijaya's existence there were six lines of writing that used Pallawa script in Old Malay language it was discovered that the inscription was created in 606 Saka or 684 AD "It is true that only the last digits of the year my assumption is that it is actually 606 (Saka)," he said Why it is believed to have been made in 606 Saka is because the first line of the Baturaja Inscription tells the story of Minanga which has collapsed or fallen the inscription explains about the negotiations or deliberations between the ruler of Sriwijaya and the rebels job offers to rebels who are willing to submit or punishments to rebels who refuse to submit The Baturaja inscription (on the left) stands alongside the Kedukan Bukit inscription on display at the Sriwijaya Kingdom Tourist Park Museum in Palembang the contents of the Baturaja Inscription solve the puzzle of the exact location of Minanga mentioned in the Kedukan Bukit Inscription Minanga mentioned in both inscriptions is likely to be the same area located in the current East OKU Regency undertook a holy journey with his army from Minanga to Mukha Upang it is revealed why Dapunta Hyang went on a sacred journey to avoid the rebellion that took place in Minanga He was looking for a new place to establish a wanua (which was located around Mukha Upang) it is revealed why Dapunta Hyang embarked on a holy journey which was to avoid the rebellion that occurred in Minanga He sought a new place to establish a settlement (around Mukha Upang)," said Wahyu Wahyu's argument regarding the location of Minanga has enriched the endless debate about the exact location of Minanga Since the discovery of the Kedukan Bukit Inscription by CJ Batenberg in the village of Kedukan Bukit many theories have emerged regarding the location of Minanga There are experts who claim that Minanga is the same as Minangkabau and that Minanga originates from the upper reaches of Batanghari River in West Sumatra There are also experts who argue that Minanga is located at the confluence of the right and left branches of Kampar River around Muara Takus Temple in Riau Other experts argue that Minanga has changed its name to Binanga an area located downstream of the Barumun River in Padang Lawas which leads to four assumptions about the center of Sriwijaya It originated in Minanga (before the 7th century) moved to Palembang (in the 7th-9th centuries) moved to Muaro Jambi (in the 10th-11th centuries) and finally to Kedah (Malaysia in the 11th century) this theory was made to be overthrown by stronger theories," Wahyu said Also read: Cheng Ho Mosque Palembang, Bridge of Diversity in "Earth Sriwijaya" The allegation regarding Minanga being around Komering Ulu has been put forward by HM Arlan Ismail in his book, Periodization of Srivijaya History: Starting in Minanga Komering Ulu, South Sumatra Ending in Jambiwhich was published in 2003 Arlan proves it in terms of the meaning of the word Minanga the meaning of Minanga must be in line with the records of the Buddhist monk from China who first visited the capital of Sriwijaya in 671 AD I-Tsing's notes are one of the oldest historical traces of Sriwijaya besides those listed in inscriptions The book Periodization of Srivijaya History: Starting in Minanga Komering Ulu the capital of Sriwijaya is Fo-Shih which comes from the Chinese transliteration of the word Wijaya Wijaya comes from Sanskrit which means victorious or victorious The words Menang and Minanga are considered to be similar The only difference is in the vowels E and I and the addition of A at the end of the word (paragog) the vowels E and I are found in a close group where there is a high probability of correspondence in pronunciation so that the word Winning in Indonesian today can be an adaptation of the old word Minang Also read: Cap Go Meh Becomes Witness to the Harmony of Diversity on the Edge of Musi it must be in accordance with the records of I-Tsing Minanga must be located in the southern part of Sumatra as per I-Tsing's sailing trace particularly during his first visit to Sriwijaya Minanga must be included in the group of ancient Malay or Proto-Malay ethnicities because the ancient Malay language is the identity of Sriwijaya especially in the inscriptions they left behind The distance between Minanga and Mukha Upang also needs to be accessible by land because 1,312 Sriwijaya soldiers walked to Mukha Upang as described in the Kedukan Bukit Inscription The distance between Minanga and Mukha Upang must not exceed 28 days based on the original departure date from Minanga on May 28 682 and the establishment of the village on June 26 Minanga must have been located by the river or the beach in that era according to the geomorphological research results of the ancient heritage agency The distance between Minanga's location in Komering Ulu and Palembang as published in the book Periodization of Sriwijaya History: Starting in Minanga Komering Ulu Ending in Jambi by HM Arlan Ismail which was published in 2003 photographed in Palembang the inhabitants of the interior of South Sumatra are divided into three cultural groups The Dempo Culture belongs to the Young Malay or Deutero Malay while the Kaba/Rejang and Seminung Cultures belong to Proto Malay the only place still using the name Minanga is in the cultural region or Seminung cluster approximately 138 kilometers south of Palembang Minanga is located on the estuary of Komering River one of the largest rivers in South Sumatra Also read: History Teacher Key to Reconstructing Sriwijaya Collective Memory The characteristics of settlements in Minanga indicate that the area was once the center of government of a kingdom This is shown by the unique names of villages there which is identified with a complex that used to be the residence of queens Kedalom village is synonymous with the term "abdi dalem" (palace servant) Balak village comes from the term "bala" or "wala," which means the kingdom's troops Binatur village originates from the term "batur" or palace servant Taman Sari village is synonymous with the location of the "putri datu" (princess's bathhouse) A number of similarities in words between the Old Malay language of the Sriwijaya era and the language used by the Minanga people in Komering Ulu are published in the book Periodization of Sriwijaya History: Starting in Minanga Komering Ulu Kampung Kinawor which comes from the word kawor or interesting place Kinawor Village is identified as a resting place for the datu's daughters the names of these villages have been used as old as the name Minanga or since long ago "The Minanga area has existed long before the discovery of the Kedukan Bukit inscription which mentions the word Minanga It is proven by the boundary recognition charter of Minanga given by Ratu Sinuhun as the ruler of the Palembang Kingdom in 1629 Minanga is a clan (the smallest government structure in the old tradition of South Sumatra) with a fairly large area," said Arlan Also read: Cheerful Kambang Iwak and Sriksetra in Palembang Since the Sriwijaya Era a bronze Buddha statue measuring approximately 35 cm tall and 11 cm thick was found in Minanga The statue was discovered by a transmigration resident from Tulung Agung in Margadadi Village which is located 15 km from Minanga the Minanga people still use Malay which has similarities to Old Malay from the Srivijaya era According to JG de Casparis' translation in 1956 the inscription that contains writing about the structure of the government of Srivijaya consists of 28 lines with approximately 709 readable words Siguntang Hill Gallery or Museum in Palembang there are approximately 398 repeated words which belongs to the Komering language of the Seminung group," said Arlan The archaeologist from the Center for Maritime Environmental Archaeology Research and Sustainable Culture of the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN) stated that with many incomplete historical mysteries the process of tracing the exact location of Minanga is likely to continue until there is a clear solution the theory that Minanga is in Komering Ulu still requires further data to strengthen its connection with Mukha Upang We have conducted the Sriwijaya Expedition (in 2009) through the water route from Bangka Strait to Mukha Upang there are traces of ancient settlements in Mukha Upang Looking at the distance between Bangka Strait and Upang (around 50 km) it is very possible that the two regions were a trade route during the Sriwijaya era most experts believe that the holy journey of Dapunta Hyang and his entourage was conducted from the sea or entered from the Bangka Strait towards the Musi River Basin until arriving at Mukha Upang (from east to west) the theory about Minanga in Upper Komering shows that the holy journey of Dapunta Hyang and his entourage was carried out from the interior of South Sumatra towards the Musi River Basin until arriving at Mukha Upang (from west to east) "We once conducted the Sriwijaya Expedition (in 2009) through the waterway from Selat Bangka to Mukha Upang we found traces of ancient villages in Mukha Upang Looking at the distance between Selat Bangka and Upang (around 50 km) it is highly possible that the two areas were trading routes during the Sriwijaya era we estimate that the Wanua mentioned in the Kedukan Bukit Inscription is located in Upang (now in the Banyuasin Regency The explanation detailing the process of relocating Sriwijaya's capital which was presented during the Coordination Meeting for the Preparation of Maritime History Archive Tracing and Rescue in Sriwijaya held in Palembang The Head of the National Archives Strategic Issue Exploration Team from the National Archives of the Republic of Indonesia (ANRI) I-Tsing first came to the capital of Sriwijaya in 671 AD It stands to reason that if I-Tsing arrived there and there were already settlements it means that the city had already existed for longer than his arrival it is impossible for a new city to suddenly be bustling like a magic trick in the story of 1,001 Nights This indicates that Sriwijaya may have existed even longer than 671 AD especially when compared to when the Kedukan Bukit Inscription was made the story before 671 AD and from 671 to 682 AD when the Kedukan Bukit Inscription existed Also read: Site of Great Tolerance The incomplete puzzle pieces of history are what need to be sought including through the Sriwijaya Maritime History Archive Search and Rescue program this is important for strengthening arguments regarding the existence of Sriwijaya we can have a strong argument when there are regions or other countries trying to claim Sriwijaya or when there are parties who doubt the existence of Sriwijaya such as some cultural figures who consider Sriwijaya as fictional and Sriwijaya was just a group of pirates some years ago," said Agung opened a new Hypermart G7 outlet in Baturaja The new outlet in Citimall is the 20th Hypermart in Sumatra and adopts the company's G7 format featuring improved store design and a gross selling area of 6,500 square meters "We are delighted to open our new Hypermart G7 store in Baturaja We will make sure that with the quality of products and unparalleled retail service it will have a positive impact on modern retail in Baturaja and South Sumatra and will support the regional economy," MPPA public relations and communications director Danny Kojongian said MPPA now owns 112 Hypermart outlets in Indonesia MPPA and the Jakarta Globe are both affiliated with the Lippo Group Jakarta - State-owned railway operator PT Kereta Api Indonesia (KAI) will soon operate the premium economy train (KA) connecting Tanjung Karang Station "We are still waiting for the completion of the double-track railway construction in Baturaja Station to Prabumulih South Sumatera which is expected to be completed on May 2018," said Franoto Wibowo the public relations manager of KAI Regional Division (Divre) IV Tanjung Karang Franoto said that the premium economy train had previously been tested from Tanjungkarang Station to Kotabumi Station the train will be used a mean of transportation for  the 2018 Eid al-Fitr homecoming to add the existing railway service namely KA Sriwijaya and KA economy Rajabasa Eight wagons of the train will be enough to accommodate 80 people while the other two sets can transport 64 people KA Tanjung Karang-Baturaja iwill be equipped with air conditioning and a special seat for disabled passengers Franoto added that PT KAI has yet to announce the ticket price for the premium train 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Here Are the Top 12 Destinations Top 10 Highest-Paying Majors Worth Pursuing in 2025 Six Dead, Dozens Injured in India's Goa Religious Festival Stampede Airborne Soldiers descended from the sky in a synchronized pattern over the island of Sumatra in the Indonesian archipelago in early August 2022 landing in the rice fields and in openings of dense tropical forests of Baturaja Japan and the United States completed their first leap together at Super Garuda Shield a multinational and joint military exercise led by the Indonesian National Armed Forces also known as the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) The jump was not the only first at the annual exercise which garnered the moniker Super Garuda Shield for its size Japan and Singapore participated in the exercise which was staged amid starkly heightened global tensions reflecting participants’ commitment to countering threats to regional security launched the exercise at the Baturaja Combat Exercise Center and drew more than 4,300 participants Military personnel joined from 12 nations in addition to Indonesia and the United States Garuda Shield also emphasized maritime operations we are stronger,” Flynn said at the launch of the exercises calling them “an important expression of our teamwork our interoperability and our unity as a group of nations that seek to have a Free and Open Indo-Pacific and maintain a rules-based order.” Garuda Shield featured a range of activities and capabilities including weapons interoperability and field coordination and jungle survival and urban terrain training Amphibious operations and an airfield seizure exercise were also conducted Super Garuda Shield built upon previous exercises allowing personnel to test equipment and procedures a better understanding of the defense infrastructure needs of the TNI and other allied and partner militaries a lecturer in the Department of International Relations at Indonesia’s Padjadjaran University Super Garuda Shield also enabled the TNI to expand collaboration and experimentation with combined and joint forces as part of USARPAC’s Operation Pathways which is a symbol of regional friendships and cooperation “I’m proud to see how Garuda Shield has grown since last year — expanding this summer to a joint multinational exercise that includes all of our service components,” Flynn said “It’s a symbol of the U.S.-Indonesia bond and the growing relationship between land forces in this consequential region … because land forces are the glue that binds the region’s security architecture together building relationships and by building trust we stitch the fabric of regional security into something lasting.” new faces and geopolitical aims reflected the circumstances under which it took place tensions have steadily grown in the Indo-Pacific due to competing territorial claims in the South China Sea as well as what is widely seen as the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC’s) growing military presence and strategic ambitions across the region and beyond regional partners have joined together to demonstrate that destabilizing actions by the PRC and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would be met by a strong alliance but it also sends a message to potential regional powers that there is close defense coordination when changes occur,” Nikolaus Loy an international relations expert at Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran in Yogyakarta “I believe the exercise represents an attempt to respond to global and regional strategic shifts,” Loy said He listed the growing number of security challenges beyond the headline-making tensions over Taiwan: the disputes between Japan and the PRC regarding the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands and between India and the PRC over the mountainous border region of Ladakh; nuclear-armed North Korea’s unpredictable behavior including its destabilizing missile tests; as well as Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent war Although not a party to any of the South China Sea disputes among Beijing and other littoral states which were rejected by an international tribunal in 2016 overlap with Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone in the southern portion of the South China Sea Beijing’s claims have led to confrontations that have further eroded the PRC’s public image such as illegal fishing by Chinese fleets and mistreatment of Indonesian crew members on Chinese vessels The TNI’s decision to stage some of Super Garuda Shield in the Riau Islands along the Malacca Strait in the South China Sea was significant given nearby incursions by Chinese fishing boats and the islands’ status as the administrative capital of the maritime area beyond the PRC’s increasingly ambitious regional posture the growth of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) military capabilities is causing concern intelligence assessments described the PLA as gradually but steadily transforming into a highly agile power-projecting arm of the CCP’s foreign policy machine engaged in military diplomacy and operations globally according to the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Indonesia’s long tradition of nonalignment remains robust and the country’s civil and military leaders say its defense posture and foreign policy are not aimed at any nation “We are all friends with our neighboring countries stressing that “there is no message for anyone” in the exercises Perkasa noted that the PRC’s participation in the first Garuda Shield and in two Indonesian-Chinese military exercises in 2012 and 2013 had not been followed by interest from Beijing in the 2022 exercise “If they do not see the drill as a priority adding that Indonesia remains open to holding exercises with the PRC Padjadjaran University’s Teuku said concerns over the CCP made the PLA’s participation in Super Garuda Shield impossible Issues such as continuing maritime territorial disputes between the PRC and Southeast Asian nations and the importance of maintaining a Free and Open Indo-Pacific presented barriers to cooperation While the PRC remains Indonesia’s largest trading partner changing economic patterns are seen as reducing Indonesia’s dependence on the region’s economic powerhouse Indonesia’s status as the largest country in Southeast Asia — and the fourth most populous in the world — means that it is fully able to be its own player Australia’s hardening line toward the PRC and Jakarta’s warming ties with Canberra are seen as important regional developments There are other indications that Indonesia like other participants in Super Garuda Shield is working more closely with allies and partners to foster security in the region and beyond Indonesian President Joko Widodo reportedly made Japan’s participation in the exercise a key point during an official visit to Tokyo in July 2022 and Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense Tsuyohito Iwamoto was in Jakarta for meetings shortly before the kickoff in Baturaja will play a key role in regional security and stability Because most of the Super Garuda Shield participants are U.S Indonesia’s military is still perceived as a close partner of the U.S. a former head of the TNI’s Strategic Intelligence Agency Yet Super Garuda Shield proved more than just a means to address a regional threat to Indonesian sovereignty While the exercise defined the essence of security partnerships in the region Super Garuda Shield also transcended geopolitics in many aspects it provided a platform for personal and cultural relationships among Indonesia and the U.S Participants achieved a deeper appreciation for trust among like-minded allies and partners and for a shared understanding among different cultures that will provide a solid foundation for genuine future relationships among the militaries the FORUM staff will only use it to communicate with you We will not share your email address or publish it Only your name and website will appear on your comment and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Indo-Pacific Defense FORUM is a professional military magazine published quarterly by the commander of the U.S Indo-Pacific Command to provide an international forum for military personnel of the Indo-Pacific area The opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent the policies or points of view of this command or any other agency of the U.S All articles are written by FORUM staff unless otherwise noted The secretary of defense has determined that the publication of this magazine is necessary for conducting public business as required by the Department of Defense Ricky Mohammad Nugraha Petir Garda Bhwana TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) General Andika Perkasa has officially opened the joint military exercise touted the Super Garuda Shield (SGS) 2022 held at South Sumatra’s Baturaja combat training field on August 3 This event is a joint training between Indonesia and Indo-Pacific countries "SGS 2022 is a large-scale joint training event between Indonesia and friendly countries in the Indo-Pacific region," said TNI Commander General Andika Perkasa General Andika was accompanied by the Commanding General of United States Army Pacific Command (USQPARC) General Charles A Flynn The opening of the exercise was marked by pinning the participant's beret to the soldier's representative namely the Combat Training Center in Baturaja the Marine Combat Training Center in Dabo Singkep and the Combat Training Center in Amborawang There are 13 countries participating in the military exercise which include the United States This annual joint exercise between the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) is designed to strengthen the interoperability mutual trust and cooperation that have been built Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News Jokowi Responds to Calls for VP Gibran's Impeachment Yemeni Houthis Announce Airspace Blockade Against Israel Anthony Albanese Makes Indonesia His First Visit After Winning Australian Election Prabowo Congratulates Anthony Albanese on Reelection as Australian PM Australia's Prime Minister Who Made History Prabowo Urged to Stop Dedi Mulyadi's Policy of Sending Children to Military Barracks Why Extremists See Gold in the Migration Debate Trump is the Symptom of Deeper American Malaise Anthony Albanese Becomes Australia's First PM to Win Consecutive Three-Year Terms in 21 Years This work, 25th Infantry Division Tropic Lightning Brass Band partners with Baturaja University, by SGT Darbi Colson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright  Aug 3, 2022An Indonesian, left, and an U.S. soldier walks together during their annual joint combat exercises in Baturaja, South Sumatra province, Indonesia, Wednesday, Aug 3, 2022. (AP)JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — The United States and Indonesian militaries began annual joint combat exercises Wednesday on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, joined for the first time by participants from other partner nations, signaling stronger ties amid growing maritime activity by China in the Indo-Pacific region. More than 5,000 soldiers from the U.S., Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Singapore were participating in this year’s exercises, making them the largest since the drills were established in 2009. The exercises are designed to strengthen interoperability, capability, trust and cooperation in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement. “It’s a symbol of the U.S.-Indonesia bond and the growing relationship between land forces in this consequential region,” Gen. Charles Flynn, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, said in the statement. “Because land forces are the glue that binds the region’s security architecture together.” Flynn and Indonesia’s Military Chief Gen. Andika Perkasa opened the joint drills with a ceremony on Wednesday morning in Baturaja, a coastal town in South Sumatra province. The exercises will last until Aug. 14, encompassing army, navy, air force and marine drills. China has also been increasingly assertive over its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea. U.S. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the number of intercepts by Chinese aircraft and ships in the Pacific region with U.S. and other partner forces has increased significantly over the past five years, and the number of unsafe interactions has risen by similar proportions. “The message is the Chinese military, in the air and at sea, have become significantly more and noticeably more aggressive in this particular region,” Milley said last month during a trip to the Indo-Pacific that included a stop in Indonesia. While Indonesia and China enjoy generally positive ties, Jakarta has expressed concern about Chinese encroachment on its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, which China claims virtually in its entirety. The U.S.-Indonesia military exercises coincided with Pelosi’s arrival in Taiwan late Tuesday, as the highest-ranking American official in 25 years to visit the self-ruled island. Beijing views visits by foreign government officials as recognition of the island’s sovereignty. Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force is participating for the first time in the exercises, saying it promotes a “free and open” Indo-Pacific vision of security and trade with the U.S. and other democracies in the region. The expanded drills are seen by China as a threat. Chinese state media have accused the U.S. of building an Indo-Pacific alliance, similar to NATO, as a means to intentionally provoke conflict. Facebook pageTwitter feedRSS feedDefense News © 2025 commander in the Indo-Pacific joined the head of Indonesia’s armed forces atop a five-story tower Friday to watch their troops fire a lethal fireworks display including Javelin anti-tank missiles and machine guns Artillery sounded in the distance and AH-64 Apache helicopter gunships sliced through the sky overhead The drill was the largest live-fire event of Super Garuda Shield two weeks of field training on Sumatra by 2,000 U.S and 2,000 Indonesian troops and smaller contingents from a dozen other nations Indonesia’s largest military training area Muhammad Andika Perkasa of the Indonesian National Armed Forces Aquilino took up a familiar refrain in his remarks to reporters afterward Peace and prosperity in the region have “been in place for 80 years and underlined by the-rules based order,” he said It also strengthens ties between the two countries’ militaries as potential adversaries in the regions Super Garuda Shield overlapped with a weeklong series of exercises by China’s armed forces around Taiwan that also included live fire of artillery and ballistic missiles House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan on Aug Beijing punctuated its exercises with a white paper Wednesday that justifies using force to unite Taiwan “Destabilizing activities by China in Taiwan is exactly what we are trying to avoid,” Aquilino said Perkasa told reporters that his forces should be able to work with anyone who shares a common goal at Harvard University and the National War College told Stars and Stripes that training together created friendships between American and Indonesian soldiers despite the language barrier Baturaja Training Area is comparable to the Joint Readiness Training Center at Fort Polk who helped develop the Sumatran range during his previous job as Indonesian Army chief of staff “It’s the military’s duty to prepare itself for future contingencies “We don’t know what’s going to happen in the future.” spent Friday moving personnel around the training area in a Dagor tactical vehicle The Dagor was made for the bumpy Sumatran terrain “It’s a lot better than a Humvee,” he said of the dune buggy-style all-wheel-drive vehicle with sturdy suspension Shifflet said he was impressed with the U.S Army and Indonesian Apache helicopters firing overhead Indonesia – American soldiers training on Sumatra this month are getting the Justin Bieber treatment with locals mobbing them for photographs outside training areas Hundreds of students showed up to a concert by the 25th Infantry Division’s Tropic Lightning Band at Baturaja University on Thursday The band is in Indonesia with another 2,000 U.S troops participating in this month’s Super Garuda Shield exercise alongside 2,000 Indonesian service members A student drum band kicked off the concert with some impressive marching and baton twirling before seven American soldiers took the stage and played hits by Taylor Swift They also performed an Indonesian song called “Sikok Bagi Duo.” teachers and parents mobbed the Tropic Lightning members and civil affairs soldiers asking to take photographs with them Agribusiness student and university band conductor Dewi Anggraeni said she and her classmates were excited to see the soldiers Army is the first foreign marching band that has come to the university,” she said Students spent a week rehearsing for the performance American singers such as Ariana Grande and Bruno Mars are popular with youngsters in Baturaja but Anggraeni said she prefers traditional Indonesian music One of the soldiers who watched the show was Staff Sgt who works for the Army’s Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations Command but they want to take a lot of photos,” he said between posing for snaps with the students “It’s really heartwarming to see that enthusiasm.” The crowd’s response means performing in Baturaja felt like being in a hit band back in the United States Huge crowds turned up for Tropic Lightning shows during the exercise adding that several thousand people attended a performance in a local park earlier in the week What would he tell other troops who might train in Indonesia “Everybody is so excited to have us here,” he said troops attracted interest even when they were doing routine things A group of soldiers driving a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System on Tuesday from Palembang to Baturaja were hit up by fellow motorists seeking photos when they stopped to eat at a rest area More than 87% of Indonesia’s 275 million people are Muslim making it home to the world’s largest Muslim population It has fought a decades-long war against Islamic extremists including the terrorist group Jemaah Islamiyah whose members carried out the October 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people Indonesia’s national assembly toughened its anti-terrorism law in 2018 after a surge in local militancy and an Islamic State bombing that killed 30 people Army has ample experience working in the Islamic world in recent years “We understand their culture within reason and respect their culture,” said 7th Infantry Division commander Maj forces participating in Super Garuda Shield The popularity of American soldiers with locals shows the “power of goodness” that they bring with them he said during a break in training at Baturaja on Wednesday “Our soldiers are our credentials,” Smith said and Indonesian soldiers move to take their positions during Super Garuda Shield 2022 in Baturaja Indonesia and Australia joined a live-fire drill on Friday part of annual joint combat exercises on Sumatra island amid growing Chinese maritime activity in the Indo-Pacific region A total of more than 5,000 personnel from the U.S., Indonesia, Australia, Japan and Singapore are participating in this year’s Super Garuda Shield exercises making them the largest since they began in 2009 The expanded drills are seen by China as a threat of building an Indo-Pacific alliance similar to NATO to limit China’s growing military and diplomatic influence in the region Papua New Guinea and East Timor also sent observers to the exercises China drills show ambitions beyond island, Taiwan warnsThe warning came as Taipei conducted its own exercises Tuesday to underscore it’s ready to defend itself.By Johnson LaiThe U.S said the 14 nations involved in the training are signaling their stronger ties as China grows increasingly assertive in claiming virtually the entire South China Sea and holds exercises threatening self-ruled Taiwan “The destabilizing actions by the People’s Republic of China as it applied to the threatening activities and actions against Taiwan is exactly what we are trying to avoid,” he said at a joint news conference with Indonesian military chief Gen “We’ll continue to help deliver a free and open Indo-Pacific and be ready when we need to respond to any contingency,” Aquilino said talks to the media as Indonesian Armed Forces Chief Gen and Commander of Indonesian Army Education and Training Command Lt listen during a press conference at Super Garuda Shield 2022 in Baturaja (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara)Indonesia and China enjoy generally positive ties but Jakarta has expressed concern about what it sees as Chinese encroachment in its exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea Despite its official position as a non-claimant state in the contested South China Sea Indonesia has been “dragged along” in the territorial dispute since 2010 after China claimed part of Indonesia’s exclusive economic zone in the northern region of the Natuna Islands a security analyst at the University of Indonesia The edge of the exclusive economic zone overlaps with Beijing’s unilaterally declared “nine-dash line” demarking its claims in the South China Sea Increased activities by Chinese coast guard vessels and fishing boats in the area have unnerved Jakarta prompting Indonesia’s navy to conduct a large drill in July 2020 in waters around Natuna at the southern portion of the South China Sea Indonesia sees the current exercises with the U.S as a deterrent in defense of the Natuna Islands the drills are part of efforts to forge a united front against China’s military buildup in the South China Sea “Indonesia wants to send the message that it is fully prepared for any high-intensity conflict in the South China Sea area,” she said You don't have permission to access the page you requested What is this page?The website you are visiting is protected.For security reasons this page cannot be displayed Indonesia — Military training involving 2,000 American and 2,000 Indonesian troops this month in Southeast Asia’s most populous country is a sign of Indonesia’s importance amid tensions with China includes smaller contingents of troops from a dozen other nations It’s the largest installment yet of an exercise held annually for 16 years according to an Army news release Thursday The exercise began with soldiers from the United States Indonesia and Japan parachuting Wednesday into a training area on the island of Sumatra Sumatra — the largest of Indonesia’s 17,000 islands that is completely within the country’s territory — sits on the equator and is covered in vast rainforests that are home to tigers Troops who have served in the Middle East may recognize the Islamic call to prayer echoing from mosques during the training Nearly nine in 10 people in the country with 275 million citizens are Muslims is overseeing American forces involved in Super Garuda Shield from a base in Baturaja which involved three C-130J Super Hercules from the 374th Airlift Wing deployed from Yokota Air Base coincided with amphibious training by members of the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit alongside Indonesian soldiers on Singkep Island just 20 miles north of Sumatra and south of Singapore The amphibious operation happened near a key gateway to the South China Sea where Beijing has territorial claims that Indonesia does not recognize The two nations have clashed over fishing rights in recent years the South China Sea is a potential conflict area although China has been less aggressive when it comes to Indonesia than other closer [Southeast Asian] neighbors,” Ralph Cossa president emeritus of the Pacific Forum think tank in Hawaii Nobody involved in Garuda Shield is likely to say that the training is aimed at China “China is certainly in the back (or front) of everyone’s mind especially after the events around Taiwan of the past few days,” Cossa said referring to Chinese military drills near the island after last week’s visit by U.S Indonesia is unlikely to be an arena of conflict involving China although both Washington and Beijing probably wish for strong ties with Jakarta given its ability to help shape politics in Southeast Asia and beyond an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore Indonesian President Joko Widodo recently went to Beijing as the first major foreign leader to visit China since the Winter Olympics earlier this year Indonesia’s geographic position and growing capability means that it is in a position to complicate access and logistics for both the United States and [China],” he said “Such conditions create incentives for Beijing and Washington to reach out to Jakarta.” Indonesia was a Dutch colony from the 17th century until the Japanese invasion and occupation during World War II which led to the country’s independence after Japan surrendered or underestimate Indonesia is likely to invite strong pushback.” This month’s military exercise helps underscore Indonesia’s position as a key regional partner that can bring together neighboring states in Southeast Asia “Garuda Shield highlights the military aspect of Indonesia’s regional role augmenting Jakarta’s efforts to showcase Indonesia’s political and economic importance,” he said The nations participating in the exercise have an opportunity to deepen ties with Indonesia Japan and Singapore are taking part in Super Garuda Shield alongside the U.S Timor Leste and the United Kingdom have sent observers to the exercise Indonesia also offers a platform for the different militaries to engage in a different setting and learn more about working with each other,” Chong said This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page A Soldier runs through red smoke with a Bangalore torpedo A Soldier runs through red smoke with a Bangalore torpedo during Exercise Garuda Shield at Baturaja Training Area and Indonesian armies to train in jungle warfare As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve 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