Jakarta – Top officials from Indonesian and Thai security forces gathered in Thailand on Thursday for the ninth Thailand-Indonesia High Level Committee to discuss bilateral, military ties between the two Southeast Asian nations.
This year's installment of the annual reciprocal meeting took place at the Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF) Headquarters in Thailand and was lead by Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Lt. Gen. Gatot Nurmantyo and his Thai counterpart, Chief of the Defense Forces Gen. Worapong Sanganetra.
The meeting's agenda covered an array of collaborations between the two armed forces, including the Joint Intelligence Sub-Committee, Joint Coordinated Operations and Exercises Sub-Committee and Joint Education and Training Sub-Committee (JETSC).
"There are regions in both countries where security is still an issue. This gives us the opportunity to conduct joint training programs and enhance our interoperability in eliminating terror threats," Nurmantyo said.
The TNI chief was accompanied by a slew of high-ranking officials, including Indonesian Ambassador to Thailand Lutfi Rauf, army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. M. Erwin Syafitri, air force Deputy Chief of Staff Vice Marshal Bagus Puruhito and the Defense Ministry's director general for defense strategy Yoedhi Swastanto.
A bomb tore through a busy Bangkok tourist area on Aug. 17, killing more than 20 people, including one Indonesian national. The incident is believed to be an international terror plot conceived by sympathizers of Uighur Muslims.