Golkar mulls bringing Sukhoi case to MPR meeting in August

Golkar mulls bringing Sukhoi case to MPR meeting in August

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The move to debate the purchase of Russian Sukhois has not ended
with the House of Representatives (DPR) defense commission
setting up an inquiry team into the alleged irregularities in the
deal.

At least Golkar, the second largest faction in the House, had
indicated its intention to continue the debate over the issue, as
party chairman Akbar Tandjung said on Friday that there was a
possibility of bringing the issue to the Annual Session of the
People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) scheduled for August.

"The President must give an explanation at the Annual Session.
Although it will not be an accountability speech, the legislators
will evaluate her explanation," Akbar told the press.

The House agreed on Thursday to set up a special team to
investigate the alleged irregularities in the recent purchase of
Russian-made Sukhoi fighters.

Akbar, however, said the decision to bring the issue to the
Annual Session would depend on the Golkar faction's internal
meeting, to be held soon.

Separately, deputy chairman of the House defense commission
Effendy Choirie said the inquiry team would commence operating
next week.

Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction declined
to comment on whether the Sukhoi issue would be brought to the
MPR Annual Session, scheduled to be held from August 1-10.

He said the main purpose of the inquiry team was to find a
solution to the Sukhoi deal, which did not comply with existing
procedures.

The government signed last month the purchase agreements for
two Russian Sukhoi jet fighters and helicopters worth US$192.6
million without consulting the House, as required by law.

Meanwhile, President Megawati Soekarnoputri defended the
Sukhoi deal, arguing that her administration did not violate any
laws for the deal.

"I have not violated the law. If there are irregularities, let
us go over them together," Megawati told a press conference on
Thursday night.

The purchase deal for the Russian warplanes, consisting of
four Sukhoi jets, two SU-30 bombers, two SU-27 bombers and two
MI-35 helicopters, was made during Megawati's visit to Russia
last month.

Legislators have called the deal suspicious, saying it
violated laws on defense and budget, as well as banking
procedures and regulations.

Indonesia and Russia had agreed that 20 percent of the total
purchasing value would be paid in cash, while the remaining 80
percent would be paid through a countertrade mechanism.

Megawati said the government had decided to buy the Russian
warplanes because the Indonesian Air Force's jet fighters were
already outdated, including its British-made Hawks, produced in
1942 or 1943.

"I am sad that our jet fighters are already worn out. And you
know that we are not allowed to use our Hawks in a war," she
said.

"I have told the British Ambassador to Indonesia that the
Hawks could not be used in the war (in Aceh) because they are
already outdated. What shall we do with these jet fighters?" she
asked.