ITB students back Sukhoi inquiry

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