Military told to be transparent about funds<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja and Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post,
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Former defense minister Juwono Sudarsono urged the Indonesian
\nMilitary (TNI) on Tuesday to reveal its financial sources apart
\nfrom the state budget to avoid irregularities in fund-raising and
\nuse.<\/p>\n
Juwono, who served for 10 months in the short-lived Cabinet of
\npresident Abdurrahman Wahid, said that for decades the state
\nbudget only covered 30 percent of the military's expenditure.<\/p>\n
\"The rest of the funding comes from 250 financial units,
\nranging from businesses, foundations to cooperatives. The TNI
\nshould make those resources accountable,\" Juwono said.<\/p>\n
He asserted that the amount of the TNI budget was never a
\nquestion inside the institution, but how the military spent the
\nmoney should be scrutinized.<\/p>\n
\"You can find many irregularities even in the 30 percent
\nbudget allocation from the state, so how they spend it is most
\nimportant,\" Juwono said.<\/p>\n
Debates over military funding came to the fore again after the
\ndefense ministry asked for a 10 percent increase in the
\nallocation from the state budget, saying the money was needed to
\ndeal with separatist movements in the country.<\/p>\n
The demand raised many eyebrows as it also reflects the
\nintention of the TNI to regain its role in security instead of
\ndefense affairs, which contradicts its pledge to reform
\ninternally.<\/p>\n
It is public knowledge that TNI controls many companies,
\nincluding Mandala Airlines and military equipment manufacturer PT
\nPindad, to financially support its daily operations.<\/p>\n
The government raised the defense budget by 18 percent for the
\ncurrent fiscal year from Rp 7.4 trillion (US$822million) in 2001.<\/p>\n
Incumbent Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil contended
\nthat the request for a larger allocation was justifiable as the
\nmilitary had to support the police in maintaining peace and order
\nin conflict-prone areas.<\/p>\n
\"The police need help from the military. It is impossible for
\nthe police to pay TNI for its help. That's why the TNI needs more
\nmoney,\" he remarked on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Juwono underlined that the amount of government-allocated
\nmoney was never an issue inside the military as the 250 financial
\nunits had been very supportive of TNI operations and soldiers'
\nwelfare.<\/p>\n
\"I planned a 10-year program to audit and make those resources
\nfully fledged businesses, but I do not know whether the program
\nstill exists or not,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In 2000, the Ministry of Defense under Juwono conducted an
\ninternal audit of the 200 units and found irregularities at PT
\nASABRI and Setya Bhakti Pertiwi foundation. But TNI has not
\nreported whether any measures were taken after the audit.<\/p>\n
Criticism has mounted on the proposed military budget
\nallocation, with legislators considering it a major setback.<\/p>\n
Djoko Susilo, a member of House of Representatives Commission
\nI for defense and foreign affairs, said the proposed hike in the
\nTNI allocation was an indication of the military's intention to
\nrevive its security role.<\/p>\n
\"It is a setback. The police should be in charge of domestic
\nsecurity,\" Djoko of the National Mandate Party (PAN) said.<\/p>\n
Haryanto Taslam of House Commission II for domestic and
\nsecurity affairs claimed that the move was acceptable as long as
\nit was aimed at maintaining national unity.<\/p>\n
Taslam of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) said the role of the military in domestic security
\nwas justifiable providing that the very existence of the state
\nwas under threat.<\/p>",
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