Government's plan to raise budget for military slammed

Government's plan to raise budget for military slammed

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

An observer has criticized the government's decision to raise the
budget allocations for the military and police without obliging
them to promote financial transparency.

Kusnanto Anggoro of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies (CSIS) said the military and police had failed to promote
transparency as regards their budgets so that "the public have no
idea whether these budgets are enough to support their activities
on the ground."

"The military is always asking for budget increases but it
never reports to the public on how much it earns in profits from
its various foundations each year," Kusnanto told The Jakarta
Post on Sunday evening.

"Both the military and the police have also failed to be
publicly accountable for their budgets, while the House, which
approves their budget proposals, has also failed to call the
military to account," Kusnanto said.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri unveiled on Friday the draft
of the 2003 state budget, which raised military routine spending
to Rp 17.8 trillion from Rp 9.5 trillion in 2002, and the
military's maintenance and procurement budget to Rp 4.4 trillion
from the current Rp 2.2 trillion.

The government also plans to raise the daily meal allowance
for soldiers to Rp 15,000 ($1.60) from the current Rp 12,500, and
increase soldiers' salaries by 10 percent.

"The government plan to raise the military's maintenance and
procurement budget next year is expected to improve its
performance in maintaining the country's sovereignty," Megawati
said when unveiling the budget.

Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie
Sjamsoeddin welcomed the proposed salary increases on Monday,
saying that the move demonstrated the government's desire to
boost the military's professionalism.

"We welcome the proposal and hope legislators will approve
it," Sjafrie told the Post.

He also brushed aside allegations that the TNI had
consistently failed to promote transparency and accountability
regarding its budget and the military's foundations, saying that
"the military's assets, including profits from its foundations,
have been audited by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK)."

"We are very transparent," he insisted.

Ridwan Mukti of the House of Representatives' budget committee
said that the rise of about 10.4 percent in the military's
maintenance and procurement budget was acceptable, considering
that the security situation in a number of areas was
unpredictable.

According to Ridwan, the rise would not cover the maintenance
costs for military equipment, more than 50 percent of which was
out of service.

The military complained earlier that its ability to deal with
separatist movements and sectarian conflicts around the country
had been significantly curtailed as many warships and aircraft
were out of service due to budget constraints.

The situation has been exacerbated by the military embargo
imposed by the United States and its allies following the bloody
violence in East Timor that was blamed on the military.

Thousands of military-backed militia members went on a rampage
in 1999 after the former Portuguese colony voted to break away
from Indonesia in a United Nations-organized referendum.

Indonesia has also been plagued by serious religious conflicts
in eastern areas of the country, such as Ambon in Maluku and Poso
in Central Sulawesi, and separatist movements in Aceh and Papua
provinces.