Military faces acute budget Problems: Juwono<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said the
\nIndonesian Military and National Police were finding it difficult
\nto meet minimum performance standards required for maintaining
\nsecurity given the inadequate funds that have been allotted to
\nthem.<\/p>\n
Juwono even went so far as to suggest that the low welfare
\nstandard of soldiers were driving many to seek alternative
\nmeasures which often violated the law.<\/p>\n
\"The budget only fulfills around 25 percent of the minimum
\nbudget needed for TNI operational costs,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"As long as our security personnel and equipment are not given
\nsufficient funding, we will continue to suffer more losses in our
\nsecurity maintenance,\" Juwono told journalists after the opening
\nof the ministry's national meeting here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Juwono said sufficient funding is the most important element
\nin ensuring professional, law abiding soldiers.<\/p>\n
\"Because minimum standards to enhance professionalism are not
\nmet, there are many who are involved in unsavory activities,
\nincluding 'influencing' legal processes,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The aim of Tuesday's meeting was essentially to find ways for
\nTNI and National Police to make ends meet with their limited
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
In the 2000 the State Budget allocated Rp 10.9 trillion
\n(US$1.3 billion) to the ministry. This allocation accounts for
\n5.59 percent of the total state budget which covers a nine-month
\nperiod.<\/p>\n
Most of budget allocated to the ministry will be allotted to
\nthe National Police.<\/p>\n
\"The police will make up the core of law enforcement efforts,
\nso it will need more funding,\" Juwono explained.<\/p>\n
Despite a nominal increase of 10 percent compared to the
\nprevious year's budget, the ministry had actually demanded a 62
\npercent hike when it brought its proposal to the House of
\nRepresentatives.<\/p>\n
\"We all know the budget is important in increasing the
\ncapability of law enforcement in accordance with the legal
\nprocess,\" Juwono said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that growing public demands for security
\nenforcers to be more professional is unfair if it is not followed
\nby a recognition of the terrible conditions of the nation's
\nsoldiers.<\/p>\n
\"Nowadays, TNI and National Police are under a lot of stress
\nand undermanned, and because of a lack of budget they are also
\nunderpaid. This will inevitably lead to a situation where most of
\nthe time they will underperform,\" Juwono stressed.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, with the minimum budget, Indonesia's security
\nforces will continue to perform their duties as best they can.<\/p>\n
\"With only 25 percent of the needed budget, we will try to
\nprovide the maximum national security that the TNI and National
\nPolice can afford,\" Juwono remarked without explaining.<\/p>\n
He said priority would be given to protecting investment
\ninstallations across the country.<\/p>\n
\"We will try to provide security guarantees for all foreign
\ninvestors here,\" Juwono said.<\/p>\n
To overcome these shortcomings, Juwono noted that the public
\nalso bears responsibility in ensuring peace.<\/p>\n
\"It will be the main duty of religious and local leaders,
\ninstead of us, to enhance law and order,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Juwono also revealed that to finance additional troops sent to
\nMaluku, the ministry had received an additional Rp 500 billion
\nfrom the ministry of finance.<\/p>\n
The additional money will cover 271 days of service.<\/p>\n
According to Juwono about Rp 4 billion is needed for each
\nbattalion, consisting of about 500 personnel, for that period of
\ntime. (dja)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-faces-acute-budget-problems-juwono-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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