Govt, House hope for more transparency in TNI budget<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Pressures have mounted for the Indonesian Military to improve
\ntransparency in its spending following the government proposal to
\nraise its defense budget for 2003.<\/p>\n
Anwar Nasution, senior deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, and
\nAmris Hassan, a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party
\nof Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), were of the opinion that the
\nmilitary, as well as other institutions, had to gradually stop
\nthe use of non-budgetary funds -- funds from side businesses and
\nfoundations -- because the practice lacked public accountability.<\/p>\n
\"I guess the military is not the only institution to have
\nfinanced its operations using non-budgetary funds. Almost all
\ninstitutions have (outside income sources). And we (the
\ngovernment and the House) must gradually stop them,\" Anwar told
\nThe Jakarta Post on Thursday on the sidelines of a meeting
\nbetween the government and the House Budget Commission on the
\nrevision of the 2003 State Budget.<\/p>\n
\"For the military...it may be more complicated because these
\nfoundations and side businesses became standard procedure during
\nPak Harto's administration,\" Anwar said, referring to former
\nlong-time president Soeharto.<\/p>\n
Amris urged the military to immediately clarify whether or not
\nit spent some 30 percent of non-budgetary funds for its
\noperations, or else \"we will no longer support them in raising
\nthe budget.\"<\/p>\n
\"Transparency is a must, and we will conduct an annual review
\nto see whether or not the military seriously upholds public
\naccountability. Thus far, I believe the institution has the good
\nwill to promote transparency, but they have failed to do it,\"
\nAmris, also deputy chairman of the House Commission I on
\npolitical, security and foreign affairs, said.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil asked for
\napproval from Commission I for an increased budget for the
\nMinistry from Rp 16.162 trillion (US$18 million) last year to Rp
\n19.487 trillion in 2003.<\/p>\n
The hike of some Rp 3.3 trillion covers the ministry's routine
\nspending of Rp 2.62 trillion and its development spending of Rp
\n705 billion.<\/p>\n
According to Matori, the increase is necessary as the military
\nplans to improve the daily meal allowance for soldiers to Rp
\n17,500 from the current Rp 12,500 and spend more for operational,
\neducation and training expenses from the current Rp 489 billion
\nto Rp 1.143 trillion.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/govt-house-hope-for-more-transparency-in-tni-budget-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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