Passing by Markas Paspampres (HQ of Indonesian Security Service)

Okay, here goes!

For the first days of the quest, I was originally planning to explore southern Jakarta first, as they're closer to where I live (hehe).

But then last Friday morning I had to go to Slipi (in western Jakarta) due to a necessity, so I made last-minute changes and turn my course of the day to central Jakarta, which were closer to where I was that morning.

From Slipi, I ditched my car on Jalan Tanah Abang 2 and started walking from there. My first destination was supposed to be Monas (the Eiffel of Jakarta), so I needed to walk straight through that street, which would take me to Jalan Medan Merdeka Barat (from which I'd only need to cross to reach Monas).

As I was walking along Jalan Tanah Abang 2...

...I saw this building:

Markas Paspampres (Pasukan Pengamanan Presiden)

It's the headquarter of Pasukan Pengamanan Presiden (Paspampres), the Indonesian version of the US Security Service, whose main duty is to protect the President & Vice President of Indonesia (and their families), and foreign Heads of State during their time on Indonesian soil.

No wonder it's located there, as it's not too far away from Istana Merdeka, the official residence & office of the President of Indonesia, which is located on the north side of Monas.

So yeah, I'd love to come inside and explore the place, so I approached the officer who was guarding the gate...

...which was this guy who was opening the gate right here:

Markas Paspampres (Pasukan Pengamanan Presiden)

I asked him if I could explore the HQ and take some photos. He asked if I was from the press, I said nope, and basically he said that I need a permit to be able to enter the compound, and that a non-press is unlikely to get a permit.

He called the division in charge of media relations (which is called Staf Intel or the Intel Staff), and confirmed what he said to me earlier: that even a press needs to make an appointment first and won't easily get a permit, let alone a non-press like me... Hix.

Anyway, I was ready to let go of the curiosity to go inside at the moment, and set sight to continue my journey to Monas. But then a member of the Intel Staff came to the gate and the gate officer 'trasferred' me to him (thanks for that sir, I appreciate the effort).

So now I was meeting this Staf Intel officer, and once again explaining my purpose, etc. He informed me the same things that the gate officer previously told me, but then adding that it's still possible to get a permit for another day in the future. That day was just impossible for me because Paspampres was having a rehearsal for the inauguration of a new Paspampres group.

Currently Paspampres is divided into 3 groups:

1. Group A is responsible for the safety of the President and his family.
2. Group B is responsible for the safety of the Vice President and his family.
3. Group C is responsible for the safety of official guests and their families, with another part of the group is responsible for the training and development of Paspampres personnel.

Aand there's gonna be a Group D (of which that day's rehearsal was held for its inauguration), who will be responsible for the safety of ex-Presidents and ex-Vice Presidents within a certain time, as needed.

After explaining that, he asked for my contact information and we exchanged phone number (wow, a Paspampres number in my contacts) and chatted for a while, like how he was assigned in Medan before being assigned to Paspampres a few years ago, etc. (wow again - my first time having a chat with a real soldier)

So yeah, having done chatting with mr. Paspampres, I bid farewell to the soldiers I met there and continued my journey to Monas.

I didn't get to go inside that day, but I managed to know a few things I previously didn't know about Paspampres (...honestly, I didn't know anything about them other than that they protect the President & Vice President). Well it was enough new knowledge for that morning.

Here's hope for a chance to explore the HQ in another day... :)

-redPacker