Lawmakers plan to summon Megawati over Sukhoi

Lawmakers plan to summon Megawati over Sukhoi

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Frustrated by the unsuccessful questioning of a minister, the
House of Representatives is determined to grill President
Megawati Soekarnoputri over the controversial purchase of Russian
jet fighters, apparently in an attempt to save face before the
public.

Legislators sitting on the special committee to inquire into
the Sukhoi affair expressed their intention to propose that the
House leadership ask the President to provide a clear explanation
of the deal for the purchase of the Russian warplanes.

Special Committee Chairman Ibrahim Ambong said his team was
very disappointed with Minister of Industry and Trade Rini M.S.
Soewandi's unsatisfactory explanation of the procurement process.

"The trade minister said she had merely acted on instructions
from the President," he said, referring to Rini's explanation at
the closed-door meeting with the committee late on Monday.

He added that Rini and other Cabinet ministers who accompanied
her to face her inquisitors refused to be held responsible for
alleged irregularities in the US$192.6 million deal.

The atmosphere at the House became heated on Monday when the
team refused to meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan
Wirayuda, Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Endriartono Sutarto
and State Logistics Agency (BULOG) chief Widjanarko Puspoyo, who
had accompanied Rini and intended to give a comprehensive
explanation about the jet fighter purchase.

The committee had reportedly planned the meeting to force Rini
to apologize for the alleged irregularities. The meeting finally
took place late on Monday night on condition that Rini's "aides"
were not allowed to speak or make comments outside the meeting.

"Although the minister refused to give an adequate explanation
of the arms purchase, saying the President had explained it at
the recent Annual Session of the People's Consultative Assembly,
it will be worth it for the House to summon the President, and
such an idea is acceptable," said Ambong.

The House carried out an inquiry into the jet fighter purchase
when it discovered indications that the process may have been
unlawful. The purchase should have been made using the state
budget, not Bulog funds, while the process should have been
coordinated by the defense ministry, not the industry and trade
ministry.

Four Sukhoi jet fighters have been delivered to Indonesia,
while two MI-35 attack helicopters are expected to arrive soon.
The nation will likely purchase another 10 to 12 Sukhois next
year to form a squadron to provide an effective air defense
force.

Committee deputy chairman Effendi Choirie said earlier that
his (National Awakening Party) faction would propose to the House
leadership that the President be asked to explain the Sukhoi
deal.

Many other commissions, including Rini's counterpart, which
deals with trade and industry affairs, have expressed opposition
to extending investigations as far as the head of state.

Despite the proposed questioning of the President, several of
the team's members, who wished to remain anonymous, have
expressed an understanding of why the government purchased the
Russian jet fighters through a countertrade deal, saying it
created a market abroad for Indonesian domestic products.

But they added that the government should not adopt such an
inappropriate approach in future for the purchase of other
military equipment.