Government plans to renew Sea patrol pact with Singapore

Moch. N. Kurniawan, Jakarta

The government is planning to restart a maritime patrol agreement with Singapore, giving the island nation's marine patrol aircraft access to some Indonesian airstrips.

The Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA II) agreement would allow Singaporean aircraft to land on the Natuna islands and would strengthen defense relations between the two countries, a defense official told a hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I on defense and security affairs on Thursday.

Ministry of Defense head of strategy Maj. Gen. Sudrajat told the commission Singapore had long requested Indonesia reopen the MPA II.

"We will review the MPA II with Singapore (and add) extra clauses that give more benefits to Indonesia," Sudrajat said.

Many aspects, including political, social and cultural issues should be negotiated with Singapore before agreeing to reopen the MPA II, he said.

Several legislators criticized the plan, saying the government should not simply acquiesce to Singapore's request.

Permadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) said the MPA II should not be reinstated as it would send out the wrong signals. Singapore had refused to sign an extradition treaty with Indonesia and was protecting those wanted on graft charges here, he said.

"If the MPA II is reopened, Singapore will think that its relationship with Indonesia is good. We should look at all the options before reopening it," he said.

Aisyah Amini of the United Development Party (PPP) agreed with Permadi, saying that Singapore should show Indonesia it was serious if it wanted Indonesia to reopen the agreement.

Sudrajat said he would convey the legislators' perspectives to President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Meanwhile, defense ministry secretary general Suprihadi told the group the government planned to buy eight radars for Biak, Merauke, Sorong, Morotai, Ambon, Timika and Jayapura at a total price of about US$30 million a unit.

"The country lacks radars. Right now, we only have 16 radars (nationally) and only half of them work," he said.

The ministry already had US$50.5 million of export credits available to buy two of the radars in stages, he said.

One radar in Tanjung Pinang would be replaced by a new unit sometime between this year and the next, he said.

This year, the defense department would ask Minister of Finance Boediono to allocate export credits worth $415.1 million to buy military equipment, Suprihadi said.

Several countries, including the Netherlands, Korea, China, Singapore, England, France, Malaysia, Australia and Germany have issued export credits to the finance ministry.

England, France, Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and Korea have also lent money to Indonesia for military spending.

In other matters, Sudrajat said the Ministry of Defense had made a mistake by buying an Mi-17 helicopter as supplier Swiftair had so far failed to deliver the helicopter.

"We have three alternatives, one of which will take effect on May 28. The first choice is to continue the program with the existing supplier and lender, the second to replace the lender, and the third, to change both the supplier and the lender," he said.