'Indonesian arms are for defense'

'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)