President Susilo approves additional military funding<\/p>\n
Rendi A. Witular, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono approved on Wednesday a
\nproposal for an increase in the country's military spending this
\nyear despite earlier opposition amid concern over the widening
\nstate budget deficit.<\/p>\n
Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said the President had
\nagreed to provide an additional Rp 1.7 trillion (US$180 million)
\nfor military spending from the current budget allocation of Rp
\n21.6 trillion.<\/p>\n
\"An increase in military spending is a must. The military
\n(TNI) needs support from all parties to improve its equipment and
\narms in order to address future external threats,\" said Juwono
\nafter a limited Cabinet meeting to discuss funding for the
\ndefense sector.<\/p>\n
Juwono, however, said the final decision would be made during
\nthe upcoming state budget revision meeting with the House of
\nRepresentatives Budget Committee.<\/p>\n
The additional funds approved by the President, however, are
\nlower than the initial Rp 5 trillion demanded by the Ministry of
\nDefense, as Minister of Finance Jusuf Anwar had repeatedly
\nrejected the proposal due to limited capacity of the state
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
Should the new military spending budget be approved by the
\nHouse, Juwono said it would help cover the cost of repairing and
\nmodernizing TNI equipment, which was either not functioning or
\ntoo old.<\/p>\n
\"Considering the limited funds in the state budget, I think
\nthe allocation is just enough for this year. It is important for
\nus is to improve accountability and transparency in the use of
\nthe funds in order to gain maximum results,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Juwono said that the TNI was unlikely to purchase new arms in
\nthe next two years, but might start expanding its equipment
\npurchases again in 2007 when the country's economy was stronger.<\/p>\n
Next year, Indonesia is expected to increase its military
\nspending by Rp 24 trillion.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, Southeast Asia's largest economy, needs a strong
\nmilitary force not only to address threats at home, such as
\nseparatist movements, but also to protect its borders.<\/p>\n
The defense budget of the world's fourth most populous country
\nis considered very low, even compared to smaller neighboring
\ncountries, such as Thailand and Malaysia.<\/p>\n
The TNI's military equipment has been steadily deteriorating
\nas a result of the 13-year arms embargo imposed by the United
\nStates, due to gross human rights violations in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The condition was exacerbated further by the Asian financial
\ncrisis in late 1997 which ravaged the Indonesian economy.<\/p>",
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