House Urges Indonesian Military to Evaluate Ammunition Destruction SOPs

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Deputy Chairperson of Commission I of the Indonesian House of Representatives Dave Akbarshah Fikarno Laksono urged the TNI to evaluate the ammunition destruction procedure that caused the explosion in Garut, West Java, which claimed 13 lives. "I ask the TNI to conduct an in-depth investigation to ensure that operational standards have been implemented correctly," said Dave when contacted on Monday, May 12, 2025.

According to Dave, the incident highlights the urgency of a comprehensive assessment of the ammunition destruction procedures that have been established so far. He said the results of the evaluation would be useful for formulating mitigation steps for a repeat of the deadly incident.

"I encourage improvements to the ammunition destruction policy so that similar incidents do not recur in the future," he said. To the government and the TNI, Dave recommended that they increase supervision and audit security procedures.

No less important, Dave also encouraged the government to educate the community around the destruction location regarding the procedures that must be carried out. "As well as providing compensation for the families of the victims," said the Golkar party politician. He hopes that the government and the TNI will immediately take concrete steps to ensure public safety in the future.

In line with Dave, member of Commission I of the House of Representatives Tubagus Hasanuddin also assessed that the ammunition explosion in Garut should be a momentum for the TNI to comprehensively evaluate security procedures. Hasanuddin explained that the ammunition that was detonated was expired ammunition that was technically unstable.

TB Hasanuddin said that there was a miscalculation by the TNI when detonating the expired ammunition. He explained that the first explosion was designed to destroy all ammunition. However, because the nature of expired ammunition is not completely predictable, there was a subsequent explosion that was out of control.

"This is the result of an error in the officer's prediction. They thought one explosion was enough, but it turned out that ammunition exploded later and caused casualties," said TB Hasanuddin when contacted on Monday night.

In terms of location, Hasanuddin assessed that the location of the explosion which was in the coastal area was in accordance with the provisions. However, he emphasized that the public should not be able to access the area.

"In the future, regional restrictions must be carried out with tighter supervision to prevent civilians from being in dangerous areas," said the PDIP politician. Even though the destruction of ammunition has followed the applicable standard procedures, he continues to urge the TNI to improve the procedure for detonating ammunition, especially expired ammunition, so that similar incidents do not happen again.

Previously, it was reported that 13 people died in an explosion incident during the process of destroying expired ammunition or discarded ammunition in Sagara Village, Cibalong District, Garut Regency, West Java, on Monday morning, May 12, 2025. Four victims were from the ranks of the Indonesian Army, the rest were civilians around the location.

Head of the Indonesian Army Information Service Brigadier General Wahyu Yudhayana revealed that the incident occurred when the Indonesian Army Equipment Center (Puspalad) unit was carrying out routine procedures for destroying ammunition at a location belonging to the Garut Natural Resources Conservation Center (BKSDA), which has been officially used for the destruction of explosives.

"The destruction was carried out at 09:30 WIB (Western Indonesian Time) by the ranks of the Puspalad Three Ammunition Warehouse Center. The location has been approved and declared safe before the implementation," said Wahyu in an official statement in Jakarta, Monday, May 12, 2025.

According to Wahyu, the activity began with the distribution of security personnel to their respective posts. After the security team declared the area sterile, the destruction was carried out in two prepared blasting holes. "

The first and second blasting went smoothly without any problems," he said. However, the incident occurred when the team was handling the remaining explosives, in the form of detonators, which would be destroyed in the third hole. "Before the blasting process was carried out, an explosion suddenly occurred from inside the third hole. That explosion was what caused the loss of life," said Wahyu.

Dani Aswara contributed to the writing of this article.

Editor’s Choice: Victims Killed in Garut Ammunition Explosion Allegedly Participated in Destruction Process

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