Medan – The Bukit Barisan Regional Military Command in North Sumatra dismissed with disgrace 47 soldiers for drug abuse and desertion during a dismissal ceremony on the Benteng Medan field in Medan on Monday.
There were 11 soldiers dismissed for drug abuse and 36 others for desertion, Bukit Barisan Military Command chief of staff Brig. Gen. Tiopan Aritonang said, adding that the dismissal was carried out in order to uphold fair law enforcement.
"No Indonesian Military [TNI] soldiers are immune from the law. We will take firm action if there are soldiers found violating the law," he said during the ceremony on Monday.
Besides those that had been dismissed from TNI, there are also 21 soldiers of Bukit Barisan Military Command currently being tried for drug cases. They could face dismissal, if found guilty, Tiopan said.