Army blamed for chopper saga

JAKARTA: Indonesian Military (TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto pointed to the Army leadership as the party responsible for the controversy over the purchase of four Russian-made MI-17 helicopters.

Speaking on the sidelines of a seminar on security and threats ahead of the general election, Endriartono said, "the one who appointed the lender company should be held responsible for the current problems".

"There is a procedure to procure military equipment, which allows the three chiefs of staff to propose their needs in detail to related ministries, the defense and finance ministries," Endriartono said.

He added the chiefs of staff had the authority to appoint the lender company.

"Should the company become the problem with regard to delivery of the helicopters, then blame it on the Army leadership," Endriartono said.

The Ministry of Finance released some $2.6million as a down payment for the helicopters, but the lender company failed to provide a bank guarantee to Russia's Rosoboronexport, causing a delay in the delivery.

Endriartono and the defense ministry's secretary-general Vice Marshall Suprihadi met with President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday. The President said the US$21.6 million purchase had to go ahead. -- JP