Jakarta – A three-star combat general full of achievements, Lt. Gen. TNI I Nyoman Cantiasa has been was elected as Commander of the Lowering Ceremony of the Red and White Flag during the 68th Anniversary at the Merdeka Palace on August 17 2013, or 10 years ago. Cantiasa, who at that time was still a colonel, served as Commander of the Ceremony which was attended by large and important figures in the Republic.
As a soldier who was chosen to fill this position, it is clear that it is a matter of pride. Moreover, the selection process is super tight. When he was entrusted with being the Commander of the Ceremony for Lowering the Red and White Flag at that time, Cantiasa’s military service was as Pamen Special Tactics Specialist Gultor Danjen Kopassus.
Now, at the moment of the 78th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence in 2023 or a decade after becoming the Commander of the Lowering of the Red and White Flag Ceremony at the celebration of the 68th Anniversary of Indonesian Independence, it is better for us to review his actions as a TNI soldier.
Since the starting point of his official career, this three-star general who was born in Buleleng, June 26, 1967, has clearly had the patent ability to be a genuine, intelligent combat soldier. He graduated from the Military Academy (Akmil) in 1990 with the title of best graduate and won the Adhi Makayasa award.
While holding the rank of First Lieutenant, Cantiasa was involved in the Mapenduma Hostage Release Operation. In this operation, Cantiasa served as Deputy Commander of Detachment 81 (Combating Terror) Sub Team or Sat-81/Gultor Kopassus.
This operation was an operation to free hostages in Papua, which at that time was called Irian Jaya. There were 26 people held hostage by the OPM group. Two people are Dutch citizens, and four other people are British citizens. The rest are Indonesian Citizens (WNI) who work as lecturers, pastors, and forestry officers.
This operation ended completely on May 9, 1996. During the attack by Sat-81/Gultor Kopassus troops on the OPM headquarters, two hostages were killed. They are Matheis Yosias Lasembu, an ornithology researcher and Navy W. Th. Panekenan, a biology researcher.
Cantiasa’s history of military service is solid and long in Kopassus. After graduating from the Military Academy and holding the rank of Second Lieutenant, he never once served outside the Red Beret Corps infantry. And this continues until he holds the rank of colonel. It was only after his rank broke the star that he got the opportunity to serve outside Kopassus as Kasdam Cendrawasih.
But it didn’t last long. When the rank of star on his shoulders increased to two, Cantiasa was again called back to Kopassus to assume the position of Danjen Kopassus.
After that, Cantiasa was entrusted with assignments in the area as Commander of the XVIII/Kasuari Regional Military Command, West Papua. After completing this position, Cantiasa was promoted again with the rank of three stars as Commander of the Joint Regional Defense Command III or Pangkogabwilhan III.
In this position, Cantiasa served for about one year. Until then on May 15, 2023 he was withdrawn to Headquarters to serve as the KSAD Expert Staff Coordinator (Korsahli).
One sign that he is indeed being prepared to become the next Army Chief of Staff in November 2023? Who knows. Only God can determine and answer the chances and opportunities as a dark horse for a KSAD candidate to become a KSAD. Bembo
