House commission fights for larger defense budget

House commission fights for larger defense budget

JAKARTA (JP): House of Representatives' Commission I for
politics and security urged the government yesterday to hike its
military spending in order to bolster the nation's defense
capability.

During a hearing with Minister of Defense and Security Gen.
(ret.) Edi Sudradjat, the Commission I members expressed concern
about the government's low level of defense spending, which
averages only Rp 3.6 trillion ($1.7 billion) a year.

They said this level was barely sufficient to maintain a
strong force and the equipment needed to defend the nation from
potential external threats.

Aisyah Amini, who chairs the commission, said the Armed Forces
must be allocated a larger budget given the increasing burden of
ensuring security and defending the nation.

"Commission I feels that it is necessary to increase the
budget for the improvement of the maintenance of our military
hardware, the troops' welfare and other needs," Aisyah, who led
the hearing, said.

The call for more military spending comes as the government is
putting the final touches on its 1995-1996 budget plans. The
draft budget for the fiscal year beginning on April 1 will be
presented to the House by President Soeharto in the first week of
January.

In the run-up to the budget presentation, the various
government departments usually forge an alliance with related
commissions in the House as they fight for a bigger chunk of the
overall budget. Edi at a hearing with the same commission last
October signaled that he was hoping for a hefty 24 percent hike
in defense spending.

Yesterday he said that Indonesia's total defense spending
amounts to only 1.7 percent of the Gross National Product and
seven percent of the government's budget.

"If we want to be really serious about defense and security
matters, the defense budget should be at least 3 percent of the
GNP," Edi argued.

The current defense spending level only covers 20 percent of
the maintenance costs for defense equipment. With a 24 percent
increase, the military would be able to cover up to 35 percent of
the maintenance cost.

"We are really concerned at this situation ... Is it possible
to increase the maintenance cover up to 50 percent?" Djoko
Sasetijo, a House member asked.

Edi replied that under the present budget constraints, the
military is only buying second-hand equipment, or overhauling
existing old weapons so that priority can be given to enhancing
the welfare of servicemen.

The military is currently in the process of receiving 39 used
warships from the arsenal of the former East Germany and 24 new
Hawk jet fighters from British Aerospace. The purchase of a
battalion of 50 Scorpion tanks is in the planning.

House member Didiet Haryadi of the dominant Golkar faction
said the more sophisticated the military equipment is, the higher
the budget would be. "It is ironic that the defense budget is
that small. All members of Commission I agree that the defense
spending level should be raised to up to nine percent of the
state budget, if necessary. But much will depend on the
government's good will," Didiet said.

Another House member commented that the Armed Forces should
increase the daily meal allowance for its members from the
current Rp 3,000 to Rp 5,000. (sim)