Army blamed for chopper saga

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