TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) has sent 1,800 personnel to overcome peatland fires and haze in Riau province.

Through a special ceremony at Halim Perdanakusuma airport in Jakarta, Saturday, March 15, 2014, TNI Chief General Moeldoko officially dispatched the troops.

"This is line with the instruction given by the President about an integrated operation [to overcome the haze], including the operation done by TNI," said Moeldoko before the 1,800 TNI personnel.

The troops consist of 900 personnel of the Army, 450 personnel of the Navy and 450 personnel of the Air Force, all of whom are led by Brigadier General Prihadi Agus Irianto.

Besides sending troops, TNI also deployed ten C-130 Hercules planes and one CN-295 plane. Two of ten Hercules planes are to be used to spread salt to generate artificial rain. "We will also send several Hercules planes to spread water bomb," said Moeldoko.

INDRA WIJAYA



