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)