Endriartono finally admits involvement in Sukhoi deal<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Following the appearance of testimony from top government
\nofficials implicated in the procurement of Russian-made Sukhoi
\nfighter planes and assault helicopters in the media, Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto finally came clean
\non Friday and admitted his involvement in the deal.<\/p>\n
But the general claimed he was not the one who initiated deal,
\nsaying that the idea first came from the government in 1997, and
\n\"the Ministry of Defense back then threw its weight behind the
\nplanned purchase and actually managed the project.\"<\/p>\n
According to Endriartono, TNI headquarters at the time had
\nrepeatedly sent officers to Russia to clinch the deal.<\/p>\n
\"Unfortunately, our country was hit by the economic crisis in
\n1997 and the plan (to purchase the Sukhois) was dropped,\" the TNI
\nchief told a media conference at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport,
\nduring which he was accompanied by Army Chief of Staff Gen.
\nRyamizard Ryacudu and Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Chappy
\nHakim.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said the TNI -- as \"the end user\" in the Sukhoi
\ndeal -- had appointed the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to
\ncomplete the transaction as \"the funds were to be disbursed from
\nBulog's account, which at the same time was looking for a new
\nmarket for its export commodities.\"<\/p>\n
\"The appointment of Bulog was in line with procurement
\nprocedures and I agreed with the idea of paying for the warplanes
\nthrough a countertrade deal as the country did not have the
\nfunds, while at the same time it would open the possibility for
\nus to export our surplus commodities,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The general's remarks came after a House of Representatives'
\ninquiry committee decided to expand the probe following the
\ndiscovery of a document revealing that the TNI chief had bypassed
\nMinister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil when procuring the
\nRussian warplanes.<\/p>\n
The inquiry committee is tasked with finding out whether or
\nnot the purchase of the Russian-made military aircraft violated
\nany laws, including Law No. 3\/2002 on National Defense and the
\nstate budget law.<\/p>\n
In a letter dated April 22, 2003, Endriartono on behalf of the
\nMinistry of Defense appointed Bulog to negotiate the procurement
\nof the aircraft.<\/p>\n
The existence of the letter was disclosed by the inquiry
\ncommittee after it held a hearing on Thursday with Sudar, the
\ndirector general of international trade at the Ministry of
\nIndustry and Trade.<\/p>\n
During a previous hearing with the House on May 12,
\nEndriartono categorically stated that he had no knowledge of the
\ndeal and that the military was just the \"end user\" of the jet
\nfighters, while the purchaser was Bulog.<\/p>\n
Based on the agreement between the TNI, Bulog and Russia, the
\npurchase of the four Sukhoi fighters and two MI-35 helicopters
\nwill cost Indonesia US$192.6 million, including auxiliary
\nequipment, and pilot and ground crew training.<\/p>\n
Despite the inconsistencies, Endriartono dismissed allegations
\nthat he had bypassed the Ministry of Defense.<\/p>\n
\"I complied with all the procedures as the ministry's
\ndirector-general for military equipment procurement, Maj. Gen.
\nAqlani Maza, also signed the MoU for the Sukhoi deal,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, in the later transaction the ministry was not
\ninvolved because we (the TNI) did not use ministry funds for the
\npurchase,\" he said, while adding: \"I wish the House would summon
\nme for clarification.\"<\/p>\n
Military analyst Salim Said stressed that the controversy
\nsurrounding the purchase of the Sukhois simply proved once again
\nthat many state officials and military officers lacked political
\nsavvy.<\/p>\n
Salim said the procedural violations in the Sukhoi deal could
\nhave been avoided if both Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS
\nSoewandi and the TNI chief understood what the proper
\nrelationships between state institutions should be.<\/p>\n
\"The question is whether the TNI chief has the authority to
\nappoint Bulog to manage the deal, while the industry and trade
\nminister should have first consulted the defense minister,\" Salim
\nsaid at a discussion here on Friday.<\/p>\n
The inquiry committee is slated to hear clarifications from
\nRini on Tuesday.<\/p>",
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