House to query military on dubious Aceh operation funds<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The legislature is questioning the disbursement of Rp 738 billion
\n(US$86.8 million) for the military operation in Aceh since
\nDecember amid allegations of widespread corruption in the
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
Some of the cases allegedly involve Aceh Governor Abdullah
\nPuteh, with the strong likelihood Jakarta will appoint a new
\ngovernor.<\/p>\n
The government decided on Thursday the war-torn province would
\nbe in a state of civil emergency but military and police
\noperations will continue where necessary.<\/p>\n
However, legislators who had approved both the first and
\nsecond six-month stages of \"integrated operations\", said there
\nwere indications of suspected irregularities in the disbursement
\nof the funds. Next Wednesday or May 19 will mark the end of the
\nsecond stage of the operations.<\/p>\n
Activists in and outside Aceh have for some time pointed to
\ngraft as the major cause of the province's problems, noting the
\ngovernment was more interested in pursuing the separatist Free
\nAceh Movement (GAM) than dealing with corruptors.<\/p>\n
The House of Representatives (DPR) has summoned a defense
\nministry official in charge of spending, Mas Wijaya, who is
\nexpected to show up at the House on Monday.<\/p>\n
\"The funds have been disbursed without the approval of the
\nHouse. We're questioning the disbursement and summoning him
\n(Wijaya) to provide clarification,\" legislator Djoko Susilo from
\nthe Reform faction said on Friday.<\/p>\n
Citing the Law no. 28\/2003 on the state budget, Djoko said the
\ngovernment and the House first had to discuss funds for
\nnationwide programs or activities, after which the government
\nsought the House's approval for disbursement.<\/p>\n
Members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P)
\nand the National Awakening Party (PKB) factions also said all
\nmatters related to the state budget should be discussed by the
\ngovernment and the House.<\/p>\n
In a Thursday hearing with the Ministry of Defense's Secretary
\nGeneral Suprihadi, the ministry revealed it had began disbursing
\nRp 738 billion for the second stage of the military operations in
\nAceh from December through May.<\/p>\n
Given the ministry and the Indonesian Military (TNI) had
\n\"limited time\" to continue their operations, they had asked the
\nfunds be channeled directly from the Ministry of Finance, the
\nministry said in a written reply to the House.<\/p>\n
The ministry said the funds were disbursed in three phases.
\nThe payment was Rp 83.1 billion, the second Rp 273.5 billion and
\nthe third Rp 381.6 billion.<\/p>\n
Many legislators were not impressed by the explanation.<\/p>\n
\"We urge the defense ministry to follow the existing
\nprocedures. This is a violation of the budget law,\" Djoko said.<\/p>\n
Chatibul Umam Wiranu of the PKB faction said the defense
\nministry should consult budgetary matters with the House's
\nCommission I for defense and security affairs.<\/p>\n
Commission members in charge of the state budget would then
\ndiscuss it with legislators from other commissions to confirm
\nwhether the state had adequate funds.<\/p>\n
\"That is the normal procedure. It means a certain ministry is
\nnot allowed to directly ask for money from the finance ministry,\"
\nChatibul added.<\/p>\n
He said as long as the defense ministry was \"still controlled
\nby the TNI\", similar incidents would reoccur.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/house-to-query-military-on-dubious-aceh-operation-funds-1447893297",
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