'Indonesian arms are for defense'

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense and Security Gen. (ret.) Edi Sudradjat said yesterday that Indonesia cannot be considered militarily offensive despite it purchasing new weaponry.

Edi spoke during the launching of two books on Indonesia's defense policy and on the role that the country has played in the United Nations at the National Resilience Institute building.

Indonesia is not an offensive country, Edi said. Instead, it is a defensive one, he said.

The launching of the two books, he said, was important in order to correct possible misperceptions of Indonesia's policies on defense and security.

"We do not want to give the impression that the purchasing of new weapons, for example, is aimed at strengthening our forces," he told reporters.

Entitled Kebijakan Pertahanan Keamanan Negara Republik Indonesia (Indonesia's policy on defense and security) and ABRI dan PBB (ABRI and the United Nations), the books were written by a 15-person team led by Rear Admiral (ret.) R.M. Sunardi.

Both were published by the Ministry of Defense and Security.

The first book, which contains 46-pages, is based on Indonesia's "free and active" foreign policy. It explains that the country actively defends itself against foreign attacks and maintains security.

The book also communicates that the country's foreign defense policies include efforts to promote bilateral military cooperation among countries in Southeast Asia.

Such programs, he pointed out, will help boost people's welfare in the region, he said, adding that Indonesia does not want a regional military alliance in the ASEAN region.

He said the book on ABRI and United Nations explains ABRI's roles in international peacekeeping efforts under the UN auspices.

"ABRI has been participating in the UN-sponsored peacekeeping forces in war-torn countries such as Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia and the Philippines," he said.

Edi pointed out that the books were also aimed at meeting the United Nations' call that all nations make their defense policies more transparent in order to create a favorable climate for confidence building measures among them. (rms)