ITB students back Sukhoi inquiry

JAKARTA: Students from the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) in West Java expressed support on Friday for the inquiry into the role of the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) in the purchase of Russian Sukhoi warplanes.

Their support was aired during a hearing with members of the House's inquiry committee, namely Effendi Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) faction and Ridwan Mukti and Happy Bone Zulkarnaen of the Golkar Party faction.

Student Dwi Ariyanto said the US$192.6 million Sukhoi deal was a waste of money.

Some US$26 million paid in advance for the deal was taken from Bulog, which the students said was contradictory to the role of Bulog as a stabilizer of rice prices.

Student Fransisca said the purchase would place more burden on the state budget.

Choirie said that the legislators would carry out their supervisory role optimally. - JP