The formation date of the Presidential Security Force is based on the operation to evacuate PresidentSukarno, Vice PresidentMohammad Hatta, Prime MinisterSutan Syahrir as well as several ministers and high-ranking government officials from Jakarta to Yogyakarta on the 3 January 1946, This operation was based on the safety concerns of the President and VIPs about the allied forces intimidation in Jakarta. The rescue operation was conducted using the Kereta Luar Biasa a code-name for the special Presidential train. This date is commemorated as Hari Bhakti Paspampres or Paspampres Service Day. The formation of a formal force dedicated to protecting the Indonesian president only came after several assassination attempts on President Sukarno. On 6 June 1962 a special regiment known as the Tjakrabirawa Regiment, was formed to protect the president and his family. June 6 was also the birthday of President Sukarno. Tjakrabirawa consisted of personnel from the army, navy, air force and police. In 1966, Resimen Tjakrabirawa was dissolved due it taking part in an army-led abortive coup d'état in 1965 and the protection of the president was entrusted to a military police special task force in 1966. A new presidential protection force named Paswalpres was formed on the 13th of January 1976, under the command of the Minister of Defence and Commander of the Armed Forces. This force was renamed in 1988 becoming the current Paspampres. Today, Paspampres has the strength of about 2,500 personnel and is headed by a two-star general/admiral/marshal from the TNI.
Responsibility and Tasks
Responsibility
According to the Government Regulation of The Republic of Indonesia No. 59 Year 2013, The Presidential Security Force are the troops in charge to carry out direct physical securityat close range at any time towards the:
President and Vice President along with their immediate family,
Former President and Former Vice-President,
Foreign Heads of state/Heads of government visiting Indonesia, and to conduct
State-protocol duties in order to support the main tasks Indonesian National Armed Forces.
Specific security duties conducted by the Paspampres for the VVIP also include:
Personal security;
Installation security;
Activity security;
Rescue security;
Food safety;
Medical security;
News security; and
Escort.
Tasks
Currently, the main tasks of Paspampres are to:
Provide protection for the VVIP and to ensure the safety of the VVIP from any immediate danger,
Secure installations which include security personnel, material, and all facilities used by the VVIP,
Perform emergency rescue of the VVIP,
Perform direct security in close distance from all forms of threats to the VVIP while traveling,
Ensure the safety of food and medically-related materials consumed by the VVIP,
Perform special state protocol duties
Organisation
The organisation of Paspampres are as follows:
Leadership element, consist of the Commandant and Deputy Commandant
Leadership assistance element, consist of Inspectorate, Planning Staff, Intelligence Staff, Operations Staff, Personnel Staff and Logistics Staff.
Staff service element, consist of Chief of Staff, Secretariat and Headquarters Detachment.
Executive element agency, consist of Densi, Denkomlek, Denkes, Denpal, Denbekang and Pusdalops.
*The Special Security Detachment, which performs daily duties, such as close protection towards the President and Vice President and his family. The Special Security Detachment consists of:
**Commando Group, each of the groups is commanded by a colonel.
***GROUP A, a power of 4 Detachments, conducts close-range physical security towards the President and his/her family. Group A is also responsible for Guard mounting duties in Merdeka Palace, and the usual ceremony on the parade grounds every 2nd Sunday of the month has been recently moved outside the palace, resulting in a rising public interest in the ceremony from visitors from Indonesia and overseas.
***GROUP B, a power of 4 Detachments, conducts close-range physical security towards the Vice President and his/her family.
***GROUP C, in charge of close-range physical security towards foreign VVIPs during their visit in Indonesia. This unit also consists of 1 training detachment in charge of training and fostering the ability of Paspampres personnel
***GROUP D, a power of 4 Detachments carrying out close physical security towards former Presidents and Vice Presidents and their families
**Private Escort Company
**Special Security Company
**Debarment Platoon
*State Protocol Escort Battalion, are personnel of Military Police which has the tasks for conducting state duties such as Honour guard duties, Public duties, Guard mounting and escort. It has 590 personnel and each battalion is assigned operationally to the 4 Groups. This battalion is also responsible for the external security of the residences of the President and Vice President.
Paspampres personnel are recruited and selected from the Indonesian National Armed Forces. The recruits are usually selected from special forces and special units, such as and Marines, as well as military policemen. Each individual gets rigorous military training and special martial arts training, such as Yong Moodo, Pencak Silat, Tarung Derajat, Mixed Martial Arts, and Aikido. All Paspampres personnel are required to be proficient in at least in one of the martial arts, and it was proven by becoming second winners in the World Yong Moodo Championship 2013. Paspampres personnel must carry out their duties with a high level of vigilance against any possible threat and are prepared to sacrifice their own life if required for the President, Vice President, and VVIP.
Protocol duties
Guard of Honor
Paspampres as a special joint service command of the TNI, other than being responsible for implementing security for the President, Vice President of Indonesia and VVIPs also carries out special protocol duties at state-level ceremonies such as conducting Honour Guard, public duties, quarter guard and guard mounting tasks for the national official residences during state visit ceremonies. These ceremonial duties of Paspampres is usually assigned towards personnel of the "State Protocol Escort Battalion", a detachment of Paspampres consisting of chosen Military policemen from the Military Police Corps of Indonesia. This unit also becomes the Cordon Guard during the arrival ceremony at the airport apron during a state visit and also becomes the main Honour guard during a state funeral. The uniform worn by the Paspampres Honour guard is a red long sleeved full dress uniform with a white buff belt worn on the upper waist, white trousers with white parade boots and a black shako as the headdress. During certain ceremonies such as a state funeral or changing of the guard ceremony, a light blue beret is worn instead for the headdress. During the night, a black trouser is worn.
Presidential band
The Paspampres presidential band is a military band tasked for playing the national anthems during a State visit ceremony and performs music accompaniment during state-level receptions or banquets in the palaces and other official locations when the head of state is present.
