Dilemma of TNI Headquarters and Ammunition Warehouses Near Settlements, Which One Needs to Be Moved?

A thorough evaluation is needed so that ammunition warehouse explosions and similar incidents do not happen again.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

A fire truck is getting ready to enter the explosion area of Gudang Amunisi Daerah (Gudmurah) Kodam Jayakarta in Ciangsana, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Sunday (31/3/2024).

BOGOR, KOMPAS — The existence of a military complex with ammunition warehouse facilities in it which is located near residential areas is considered dangerous. Even though the fire at the Regional Ammunition Warehouse or Gudmurah Military Jaya Regional Command in Ciangsana, Bogor Regency, West Java, did not result in any casualties, the government and all stakeholders must evaluate all military complexes close to residential areas.

The head of the Army Information Service, Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, said that they are currently investigating the cause of the ammunition warehouse fire that occurred last Saturday (March 30, 2024) evening.

Also read: Citizen Activities Gradually Return to Normal After Ammunition Warehouse Explosion

Investigating the cause of the fire is also part of the assessment of overall safety in the ammunition warehouse. However, according to Kristomei, the ammunition warehouse has been there since 1982 and was then far away from residential areas.

"If they want to move us, this warehouse has been here for a long time. Which one came first, the TNI warehouse or the residential area? Sometimes we build military installations and slowly housing appears on both sides," he said on Sunday (31/3/2024).

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

The Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit of the TNI AD searched the area affected by the fire at the Kodam Jaya Ammunition Warehouse in the Visalia cluster, Gunung Putri District, Bogor Regency, West Java on Sunday (31/3/2024).

According to him, in the development of settlements that are close to military complexes, there must be synchronization with the relevant local government regarding spatial planning. Existing regulations must be followed and implemented.

"Which areas are suitable for housing development, which areas are not allowed, and where military complexes are located. Those which may endanger the community should not be allowed for spatial planning, including the construction of housing in those areas," said Kristomei.

Spatial planning observer IPB University, Ernan Rustiadi, said that facilities or installations with high security risks, such as the Regional Military Command Regional Ammunition Warehouse Jaya, should not be close to residential areas and be sterile from economic and social activities.

Also read: DKI Jakarta Fire Department Deploys Two Robots to Tackle Ammunition Warehouse Fire

If a munitions depot has been there for a long time, and there is population growth marked by the emergence of settlements, then there are loose regulations regarding spatial and urban planning. Similarly, the government or developers do not pay attention to the development of settlements in potential danger zones.

"Whatever it is, this should not be allowed because it is too close to residential areas with high security risks. The sterile buffer area is too small. Does this not meet the rules or are there regulations that are violated and loose. "There should be no bargaining if the residential complex is close to a military complex which has a high security risk," said Ernan, Sunday (31/3/2024).

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

A fire truck passes through the entrance of the Gudang Munisi Daerah (Gudmurah) Kodam Jaya, which caught fire and exploded in Ciangsana Village, Gunung Putri District, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Sunday (31/3/2024).

Therefore, according to Ernan, the fire incident at the Regional Military District Command's Ammunition Warehouse in Jaya should serve as a thorough evaluation for the government and all stakeholders so that similar events do not recur.

The government must work together with the TNI to take a comprehensive inventory of military installations with high security risks so that they are moved far from residential areas. The Regional Munitions Warehouse Kodam Jaya also needs to be moved.

If you want to move, this warehouse has been there for a long time. Where do TNI warehouses and residential areas come first?

According to Ernan, whether there is ammunition storage in military complexes or not, military complexes near residential areas are considered normal and common in Indonesia. There is also a notion that residents feel safe when they are close to military complexes, so social interaction between the military and residents is reasonable. This is inseparable from the concept of the military being close to the people.

Meanwhile, in other countries, military complexes are far from residential areas as a precaution against disturbances or perceived urgent security threats from external and internal sources.

"However, in Indonesia, it is somewhat different because the concept of the armed forces (TNI) is close to the people. Generally, military complexes are far from urban areas and settlements. There is a difference between military complexes and the police. The police are indeed established as an institution to maintain security and public order and can have extensive interactions with the community. However, in Indonesia, residents' settlements are also close to military complexes, and social interaction occurs as well. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this," he said.

KOMPAS/AGUS SUSANTO

TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto listens to questions from journalists while inspecting the Gudmurah (Regional Ammunition Warehouse) of Kodam Jaya that caught fire and exploded in Ciangsana Village, Gunung Putri District, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Sunday (March 31, 2024).

As reported by Kompas.id, the fire at ammunition warehouse number 6 resulted in at least 135 families being affected. The West Java Provincial Government noted that 85 families were evacuated to the Ciangsana Village Office and 50 other families were evacuated to the Darussalam Mosque in Cibubur Tourism City.

General TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto, while inspecting the site, stated that warehouse number 6, which exploded, contained 65 tons of small to large ammunition. The ammunition came from the territorial unit or expired ammunition which was over 10 years old. The ammunition was under examination before obtaining approval from the Jaya Regional Military Commander to be detonated.

"If the ammunition has expired, it becomes more sensitive. It becomes unstable and can easily explode from friction or heat. That's why the warehouse is located underground with embankments and far from settlements to anticipate explosions," said Agus.

Jaya Regional Military Commander General Mohamad Hasan stated that at 03:45, the fire point in warehouse number 6 of the Kodam Jaya ammunition storage area (gudmurah) had been confirmed extinguished. The warehouse, which has been standing since 1982, stored around 160,000 ammunition units. There are a total of 15 warehouses in gudmurah.

KOMPAS/ADRYAN YOGA PARAMADWYA

Residents affected by the explosion at the Daerah Ammunition Warehouse (Gudmurah) of Kodam Jayakarta put their children to sleep at the evacuation post in Ciangsana, Bogor Regency, West Java, on Sunday (31/3/2024).

General TNI Commander Agus Subiyanto, while inspecting the site, stated that warehouse number 6, which exploded, contained 65 tons of small to large ammunition. The ammunition came from the territorial unit or expired ammunition which was over 10 years old. The ammunition was under examination before obtaining approval from the Jaya Regional Military Commander to be detonated.