Edi proposes 24 percent hike in defense spending<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Edi
\nSudradjat is pressing for a 24 percent hike in next year's
\ndefense budget.<\/p>\n
Edi yesterday proposed a budget of Rp 6.15 trillion ($2.9
\nbillion) for the 1995\/96 fiscal year during a hearing with
\nCommission I of the House of Representatives (DPR) which handles
\nsecurity and defense issues.<\/p>\n
The plan calls for Rp 4.79 trillion in recurrent spending,
\nsuch as troopers' payrolls and maintenance costs, with another Rp
\n1.36 trillion on development spending which includes the
\nprocurement of the Armed Forces' weaponry.<\/p>\n
\"The proposed budget is relatively small and should not cause
\nbig changes in defense and security,\" he told the hearing.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's defense spending has averaged 1.5 percent of Gross
\nDomestic Product (GDP). This is a significant decrease from the
\n3.47 percent of 25 years ago.<\/p>\n
In the face of strong pressure for the military to upgrade its
\naging hardware, President Soeharto, himself a retired army
\ngeneral, has repeatedly asked the Armed Forces to persevere,
\nstressing that improving the people's welfare takes priority in
\nthe state budget allocation.<\/p>\n
However, the military is currently in the process of receiving
\n39 used warships from the arsenal of the former East Germany and
\n24 Hawk jetfighters from British Aerospace.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Finance is currently drafting the government's
\nbudget for the 1995\/96 fiscal year which begins next April.
\nTraditionally, the various government agencies in competing for
\nthe scarce resources seek the support of the DPR, which must
\napprove the government's spending plans.<\/p>\n
Spending plans<\/p>\n
President Soeharto is slated to present the draft budget to
\nthe House in the first week of January.<\/p>\n
Edi yesterday detailed some of his spending plans, including
\nRp 775 billion to be used to finance programs to train troopers.<\/p>\n
The increase is necessary to finance the development of ABRI's
\n\"software\" in the territorial and socio-political fields and to
\nimprove the welfare of ABRI's personnel, he said.<\/p>\n
The budget includes Rp 583 billion ($265 million) in export
\ncredits to finance some of the imported hardware.<\/p>\n
\"This fund will be used to finance the program to upgrade the
\nweapons and equipment in the Army, Navy, Air Force and National
\nPolice,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Gen. Edi also disclosed that his ministry is currently in the
\nprocess of drafting legislation designed to beef up Indonesia's
\ndefense and security system.<\/p>\n
Two bills are expected to be presented before next April, one
\non the National Security System, and the other regulating street
\ndemonstrations.<\/p>\n
A bill on the Military Tribunal will be presented in 1995\/96.<\/p>\n
The other bills are on soldier's discipline, people's defense
\ntraining, mobilization and demobilization, national surveying and
\nmapping, and state police. (rms)<\/p>",
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