JAKARTA: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on behalf of the government and all Indonesian people extended deep condolences to the families of the 53 crew of the sunken naval submarine KRI Nanggala-402.
“They are the best sons of the nation, the best patriots, the guardians of the country’s sovereignty. Their devotion will be imprinted in the hearts of the Indonesian people,” he said in an online press statement, Monday.
“May the spirits of the golden shark warriors get the best place beside Almighty God and the families left behind will be given patience and courage [to bear the loss],” he added.
The KRI Nanggala-402 was declared sunken after losing contact in the northern waters of Bali Wednesday last week. The search team found a number of authentic evidence that the naval submarine sank at a depth of 838 meters and broke into three parts.
On Saturday afternoon, Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Air Chief Marshal Hadi Tjahjanto stated that 53 crewmembers onboard the 1978 German-built ship had died.
Jokowi said the government would promote and bestow the “Bintang Jasa” (Stars of Service) Jasalena awards on the fallen patriots to honour them.
President Widodo also stated that the government would guarantee the education for the children of the 53 Indonesian Navy soldiers who were members of the sunken KRI Nanggala-402 submarine.
“The government will guarantee the education of the sons and the daughters of the KRI Nanggala-402 soldiers up to the undergraduate level,” said the President in an online press statement on Monday.
President Jokowi expressed his utmost appreciation to the TNI, the National Police (Polri), the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the Maritime Security Agency (Bakamla), the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT), the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), and all elements who had exerted their best efforts to find the missing submarine.
“Thank you, and I also appreciate the assistance from friendly countries in the efforts, cooperation, and hard work in the search of KRI Nanggala-402,” he said.
The Indonesian Armed Forces headquarters (Mabes TNI) announced that it would not jump to conclusions of what caused the naval submarine KRI Nanggala 402 to sink 838 meters into the bottom of the Bali strait.
“We will wait for the investigation in regards to its cause,” said Navy Chief of Staff (KSAL) Admiral Yudo Margono in a virtual press conference.
The Admiral said the investigation can only be launched after the submarine wreckage is successfully retrieved and brought to land, which is not an easy task considering the depth where the wreckage is located that poses extreme risks for the search team.
However, he assures that the KRI Nanggala 402 did not sink because of human error as the submarine’s equipment was in pristine condition prior to conducting the torpedo drill and that correct procedures were followed.
“We have evaluated since the beginning of the event and surely I believe this is not caused by human error but more because of aspects from nature,” he said.
