Mega returns home to Sukhoi probe<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri returned home from a 10-day
\nAsian tour on Friday to face mounting allegations of corruption,
\ncollusion, and nepotism (KKN) in the purchase of four Russian-
\nmade Sukhoi fighters and two Mi-35 assault helicopters.<\/p>\n
Megawati and her entourage landed at the Halim Perdanakusuma
\nairport in Jakarta at 4:30 p.m. after a four-and-a-half hour
\nflight from Hanoi, the last leg of her tour to four nations,
\nincluding Bangladesh, Mongolia and Japan.<\/p>\n
She was greeted by Vice President Hamzah Haz, Coordinating
\nMinister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono, and a number of high-ranking military and civilian
\nofficials.<\/p>\n
In a brief statement to reporters, Megawati said the state
\nvisits had been successful and fruitful in that they generated
\ncommitments to enhance relations in various sectors with each of
\nthe four countries.<\/p>\n
Briefing the press before leaving Hanoi, Megawati questioned
\ncomments suggesting the involvement of her close family members,
\nespecially her daughter, in the acquisition of Sukhoi jet
\nfighters and Mi-35 helicopters.<\/p>\n
\"There are suspicions of possible mark-ups, corruption and I
\neven heard on TV that my daughter was related to the case. It is
\nnot fair to drag my daughter into the Sukhoi issue,\" Megawati
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
\"I have spoken to my ministers and officials to prepare for
\nthe probe by the House's working committee,\" Megawati was quoted
\nby Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
Megawati was referring to the working committee set up by the
\nHouse of Representatives (DPR) to investigate alleged
\nirregularities in the acquisition of the warplanes from Russia in
\nApril.<\/p>\n
The committee, known as Panja, planned to look into why the
\ngovernment decided to buy Sukhois and the process. Legislators
\nhave accused the government of bypassing them in buying the
\nplanes.<\/p>\n
Some legislators alleged the involvement of Megawati's son-in-
\nlaw Happy Hapsoro, the husband of her only daughter Puan
\nMaharani.<\/p>\n
The Panja will begin the probe on Monday, summoning several
\nbusinessmen and former government officials believed to have
\nknowledge of the deal.<\/p>\n
Many analysts believe the probe would not unseat Megawati from
\nher presidential post but severely affect her presidential bid in
\nthe 2004 election, when the country is scheduled to hold the
\nfirst ever direct presidential election.<\/p>\n
The furor began when Minister of Finance Boediono refused to
\npay the downpayment for the US$192.6 million deal without the
\napproval of the House as the fund was not allocated in the 2003
\nState Budget.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil later told the House
\nthat his office, which has the authority to purchase military
\nequipment, was never involved in the discussion to buy the
\naircraft.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto,
\nhowever, said on Friday that the defense ministry knew about the
\nplan but declined to comment on whether the deal followed the
\nstandard procedures.<\/p>\n
\"I do not understand about the procedures, but it is
\nimpossible that the ministry of defense did not know anything
\nabout the deal, as the plan to buy warplanes had been discussed
\nin 1994,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Indonesia signed a contract to buy 12 Sukhoi warplanes in
\n1994, but the deal was canceled in 1997 amid the economic crisis.<\/p>\n
Endriartono said the decision to buy Sukhoi was taken as the
\nmoment was right to get the sophisticated equipment at a
\nreasonable price and through a counter-trade deal.<\/p>",
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