Indonesia seeks self-reliance in arms

Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has raised a call for the country to become self-reliant in supplying its defense forces with arms, munitions and equipment through close collaboration among the armed forces, academics and industry.

He said scientists and entrepreneurs who were involved in the cooperation would be expected to be innovative in developing a national military arms industry.

"By working together with scientists and the business community, we could reach a certain level of independence through a transfer of technology," Susilo said on Wednesday in his opening speech to mark the first Indonesian defense expo.

Building a national arms industry has been considered crucial, as Indonesia's traditional arms supplier, the United States, has imposed a military embargo since 1999 in response to the East Timor tragedy.

Director General of Defense Strategy Maj. Gen. Sudrajat at the Ministry of Defense said 70 percent of the country's military equipment were imported from the U.S. The embargo has thus made it difficult for Indonesia to upgrade its defense capabilities.

The country has been looking for alternative arms suppliers over the past few years, particularly among eastern European countries and their well-established military arms industries, which offer a comprehensive range of combat equipment.

"Eastern European countries have offered us various forms of cooperation. They are also ready to accommodate our needs for a transfer of technology, more so than the U.S.," Sudrajat said.

Susilo also promised to improve the quality of the country's defense system and heavy equipment, but underlined this would be pursued within budgetary limitations.

He said Indonesia's vast territory and the security challenges it faced in this age of globalization, required a sophisticated defense system and advanced equipment to secure its many border areas.

"A strong military is needed to prevent any threats, and to cope with threats when they materialize," Susilo said.

The defense expo, the first to be hosted here, features around 250 participants from around the world.

The only U.S. company in the exhibition is the San Francisco- based American Technologies Networks Cooperation, which supplies night-vision goggles and similar products.

The largest stand in the four-day expo is Russia's Rosoboronexport weapons supplier company, which facilitated last year's sale of four Sukhoi fighters to Indonesia.

Countries represented in the showcase include Canada, France, Germany, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Poland, Singapore and South Korea.

Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said some 6,000 visitors from the science, technology and military fields -- as well as military industrialists -- were expected to come to the expo.

"The expo could serve as a platform to initiate business contacts and the technology transfer that would contribute to the development of the country's military arms industry," Juwono said.

The expo runs from Wednesday to Saturday at Kemayoran fairground in Central Jakarta, and is open to the public on Saturday only, when entry will be restricted to those aged 18 years and above.