House committee to begin inquiry into Sukhoigate

House committee to begin inquiry into Sukhoigate

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Alleged irregularities in the purchase of Russian-made Sukhoi jet
fighters are expected to come into the open slowly as lawmakers
begin their investigation on Monday into the highly politicized
case.

Former head of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) Rizal Ramli
told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that he would explain the role
and function of Bulog in a hearing with a working committee set
up by House of Representatives Commission I to examine
allegations of corruption, collusion and nepotism in the deal.

Bulog, set up to ensure the supply of rice and to stabilize
its price, paid US$ 25 million to a Russian agent in a down
payment for four Sukhoi warplanes and two Mi-35 assault
helicopters in April. The deal cost US$192.6 million in total.

Rizal, who served as coordinating minister for economic and
financial affairs during the leadership of former president
Abdurrahman Wahid, said there appeared to have been attempts to
revive past practices of turning the agency into a cash cow of
the power holder.

"Instead of focusing on the Sukhoi deal, Bulog should have
carried out its main duty," Rizal told the Post on Sunday.

Businessman Setiawan Djody was also due to be questioned on
Monday.

Djody, who chairs the Russian section at the Indonesian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN), could not be reached
for comment on Sunday, but committee member Djoko Susilo said the
businessman was summoned to shed light on bilateral trade between
Indonesia and Russia.

Apart from Rizal and Djody, the committee will also question
Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil, Indonesian Military
(TNI) Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, Minister of Industry
and Trade Rini Soewandi and Bulog head Widjarnako Puspoyo.

Megawati, who was ushered into the presidential post in July
2001, is the third high-ranking state official to be implicated
in scandals involving Bulog.

Abdurrahman was accused of misusing Rp 35 billion (US$4.25
million) in Bulog funds in 2002. The scandal, known as Buloggate
I, eventually led to his impeachment in July 2001.

House Speaker Akbar Tandjung was tried on charges of abusing
Bulog funds amounting to Rp 40 billion. The Central Jakarta
District Court declared him guilty of corruption and sentenced
him to three years in jail. The Jakarta High Court later
confirmed Akbar's jail sentence but he remains free, pending an
appeal to the Supreme Court.

Many analysts and politicians said that the House inquiry into
the deal would not bring Megawati down, but could severely dent
her credibility ahead of elections in 2004, when the country was
expected to hold its first-ever direct presidential election.

People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Speaker Amien Rais gave
an assurance on Sunday that the investigation into the Sukhoigate
affair was not aimed at removing Megawati from her post.

Some lawmakers have also implicated Megawati's son-in-law
Happy Hapsoro, the husband of her only daughter Puan Maharani, in
the high-profile scandal.

Legislators have said that the probe will focus on the choice
of Sukhoi jet fighters and weapons procurement procedures.

Under existing legislation, the Ministry of Defense has the
sole authority to purchase military equipment, with the knowledge
of the House. Minister Matori said earlier that he was not
involved in the deal.

Legislators are also questioning the nation's ability to
maintain the warplanes, as the country has been more accustomed
to U.S. and European-made jets.

Meanwhile, Nahdlatul Ulama Chairman Hasyim Muzadi has stepped
into the furor, calling on the House to refrain from turning the
issue into a political move.

"The political nuance of this issue is tangible; therefore we
need to be careful to deal with this affair without reducing our
critical stance of government policy on economic matters," said
Hasyim, who leads the country's largest Muslim organization.

He suspected that political motives had dominated the case,
which centers on the government's decision to buy four Sukhoi
warplanes and two assault helicopters without involving the
defense ministry and the House.

Hasyim asserted that the purchase of Sukhoi jets was not just
a trade issue but a matter of state policy. The purchase, he
said, was part of Indonesia's move to reduce its dependence on
"the global power" (the U.S.); therefore it was to be expected if
a departure from the old policy sparked disappointment from
certain quarters.

"It is this global disappointment that must be carefully
examined, so as to keep us from a conflict with global
interests," Hasyim said, as quoted by Antara.

Hasyim suggested that politicians in the House examine the
matter "comprehensively and proportionally".

"The House may investigate possible flaws in the procedures
for the purchase. If they can still be corrected, so be it.
However, if there are traces of foul play in the deal, such as
price markups, we shall consider it corruption," he said.