Armed forces to share war machines for the sake of efficiency
Muninggar Sri Saraswati The Jakarta Post/Jakarta
The Ministry of Defense is considering a system that will enable the three branches of the Indonesian Military (TNI) to share equipment to save money.
"The aim will be to encourage cooperation among the three armed forces so we can use our budgets efficiently and effectively. For example, the Army, Navy and Air Force could share helicopters and planes," Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said.
Juwono is currently in the United States for talks on the resumption of military relations between the two countries. The U.S. imposed an arms embargo on Indonesia in 1992 following a TNI-led massacre of civilians in Dili, East Timor, which later separated from Indonesia in 1999.
According to the minister, only 30 percent of the military budget would be spent on arms sale, while the rest would be used to pay the soldiers' salaries and maintain equipment.
Indonesia has some 250,000 soldiers.
Despite the proposal for a significant increase in military spending during the upcoming state budget revision, Juwono said he was prepared for bad news.
The House approved a Rp 21.9 trillion (US$2.38 billion) military budget for the 2005 fiscal year, slightly up from Rp 21.4 trillion last year and Rp 11.53 trillion in 2003.
"It's a big figure. We are one of the departments that got the biggest budget allocation. The problem is, that it is only sufficient to cover a half of our minimum needs, therefore we have to use this money as effectively and efficiently as possible," he said.
Indonesia Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said the TNI, through the Ministry of Defense, would propose a significant increase in military spending this year to revive and modernize all of its war machines.
Due to the limited state budget, the military has been allowed to run businesses. The TNI claims, however, proceeds from the businesses are mostly spent on soldiers' welfare.
Critics have blamed the businesses for hampering professionalism in the TNI, and warned of corruption due to lack of transparency in the management of the military's businesses.
Juwono said his ministry was working hard to reorganize the military businesses and make them more accountable and professional for the sake of the military's rank and file.
"We will start compiling all data about military businesses this month. We are expected to finish in October," he said.
To reorganize the businesses, the defense ministry would cooperating with the industry, justice and human rights and the finance ministries.
"The industry ministry will handle the management of the military business to make it professional, the justice ministry will take care of its legal aspects, while the finance ministry is involved because the revenue from the business will go into state coffers," Juwono said.