Probe on Sukhoigate to start next week<\/p>\n
Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
A House committee of inquiry will start its investigation into
\nthe highly politicized Sukhoigate affair by summoning a number of
\ncabinet ministers, military officers, business people and the
\nRussian ambassador to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
A committee member, however, said on Tuesday that the probe
\nwas not intended to lead to an effort o impeach President
\nMegawati Soekarnoutri but rather to shed light on why the
\ngovernment decided to buy the Russian jet fighters.<\/p>\n
Among the figures to be summoned are Minister of Defense
\nMatori Abdul Djalil, Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen.
\nEndriartono Sutarto, Air Force chief Marshal Chappy Hakim,
\nMinister of Trade and Industry Rini M.S. Soewandi, State
\nLogistics Agency (Bulog) head Widjanarko Puspoyo, the finance
\nministry's budget director, the chairman of the Indonesian
\nChamber of Commerce, Bank Bukopin officials, and the Russian
\nambassador to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Businessman Setiawan Djody on June 30 will be among the first
\nto appear at the House of Representatives to clarify the Sukhoi
\ndeal, which is worth US$192.6 million.<\/p>\n
\"We see that these people have information about the deal,\"
\nHouse defense commission deputy chairman Effendi Choirie of the
\nNational Awakening Party (PKB) said after an internal meeting of
\ncommittee members here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
During her state visit to Russia in April, Megawati signed a
\ndeal on the purchase of four Sukhoi jet fighters and two MI-35
\nhelicopters.<\/p>\n
While legislators and politicians back home generally see the
\nmerits behind the deal, they have heavily criticized Megawati for
\nfailing to consult the House before signing the deal.<\/p>\n
Under the prevailing laws, the Ministry of Defense is in
\ncharge of procuring military equipment based upon approval from
\nthe House. Megawati, however, violated all of the relevant laws.<\/p>\n
Some legislators quickly questioned the source of the funds to
\nbe spent on the Russian warplanes.<\/p>\n
Choirie, who is also the deputy chairman of the inquiry
\ncommittee, said that the purchase of the Russian warplanes
\nviolated defense and budgetary laws.<\/p>\n
Fellow committee member Happy Bone Zulkarnain of Golkar added
\nthat the inquiry committee would gather information from those
\nwho were summoned to clarify alleged irregularities in the
\npurchase of the jet fighters and helicopters.<\/p>\n
The fact that Minister of Trade and Industry Rini M.S.
\nSoewandi and State Logistics Agency (Bulog) head Widjanarko
\nPuspoyo played major roles in the purchases drew more resentment.<\/p>\n
Committee member Abdul Qadir Djaelani, meanwhile, said that
\nthe inquiry was not aimed at removing Megawati from office.<\/p>\n
\"The establishment of the task force is aimed at clarifying
\nwhy and how the government decided to purchase the Sukhois,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Separately, People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien
\nRais suggested that the government set up a team to explain the
\ndecision to the House committee.<\/p>\n
Amien, a presidential aspirant from the National Mandate Party
\n(PAN), warned the President that Bulog had already caused trouble
\nfor two prominent figures -- former president Abdurrahman Wahid
\nand House Speaker Akbar Tandjung.<\/p>\n
Abdurrahman and Akbar were implicated in separate graft cases
\namounting to Rp35 billion and Rp40 billion respectively.<\/p>\n
Amien said that the latest Bulog case could claim another
\nvictim should the President fail to provide explanations.<\/p>\n
Deputy secretary-general of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI Perjuangan) Pramono Anung said his party was not
\nworried about the inquiry as it was aimed at creating a clean and
\nstrong government.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Aqlani Maza, a director general for
\nmilitary procurement at the Ministry of Defense, said on Tuesday
\nthat the purchase of the Sukhoi fighters had violated procedures
\nas the ministry had never been involved in the deal.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know what exactly happened in Russia that made the
\nPresident decide to purchase the jet fighters, but as far as I
\nknow, the plan was never discussed with us here at the ministry.<\/p>\n
Based on Law No. 3\/2002 on defense, the Ministry of Defense
\nis responsible for military policies, including budget
\nallocations, procurement of military hardware and other defense
\nissues.<\/p>\n
\"If the reason is to meet the country's needs for military
\nequipment, I guess we can fix the problem by asking the Air Force
\nto submit a proposal ... and indeed we have already asked them to
\ndo so,\" Aqlani said.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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