Russia, France favorites for jet fighter deal
JAKARTA (JP): The government has indicated that it would rather buy jet fighters from Russia or France because they seem to be interfering less in Indonesia's internal affairs than other countries with fighters for sale.
"Only the Russian and French governments did not bring the issue of Indonesia's internal affairs and human rights record into the deal," Air Force Chief of Staff Marshall Sutria Tubagus told House Commission I yesterday.
"Now is the time for us to review all the proposals, including from Russia and France," he said.
The government canceled last month its long-standing plan to buy F-16 Fighting Falcons from the United States following a barrage of criticism over Indonesia's human rights record by American public figures.
Indonesia has expressed interest in buying Russian defense equipment, including Sukhoi-30 and Mig-29 jet fighters, radars and guided missiles. The government is also considering buying French-made Mirage 2000 jet fighters.
Russia and France are strong contenders in the jet fighter procurement plan because Russia's Mig and France's Mirage 3 are being used by air forces in many countries.
China and India are among the countries now equipping their fleet with Russia's Sukhoi fighters, while Japan is considering buying several similar fighters for training.
Taiwan and India have purchased France's Mirage 2000 aircraft. Pakistan is now negotiating to buy Mirage 2000s.
Officials here, however, have rejected speculation that Indonesia turned to Russia because of the canceled deal with the U.S.
The government pulled out of its plan to buy nine U.S. F-16 fighter planes because of "wholly unjustified criticisms" of Indonesia in the United States Congress.
The government, which also withdrew from the U.S. Expanded International Military Education and Training program, said it objected to U.S. criticism of the country's human rights record, particularly in East Timor.
Armed Forces Chief Gen. Feisal Tanjung, who led an Armed Forces headquarters delegation at the hearing of the commission on political and military affairs, said yesterday the government had not yet decided where to buy the planes.
Feisal said a team of analysts had been sent to Russia in response to the country's offer to sell jet fighters under a "soft" sale system.
A Russian team visited Jakarta in February to sell military equipment.
Feisal went to Russia immediately after the biennial Paris Air Show ended June 22. He was followed by State Minister of Research and Technology B.J. Habibie.
Also last month, a 14-strong team from the office of the state minister of national development planning went to Moscow to study the Russian offer.
Sutria said earlier that Indonesia was likely to buy the Russian Sukhoi-30 jets.
"Based on technical and price considerations, we prefer the Sukhoi-30 to complete our fleet of jet fighters," Sutria said early this month.
He said Moscow was willing to barter over the Sukhoi-30 jet fighters so that "the government may go ahead with the plan".
He did not say what the government was offering in return, but cited Malaysia's exchange of oil for Sukhoi planes.
Megawati
After yesterday's hearing, Armed Forces Spokesman Brig. Gen. Slamet Supriadi said that the Indonesian Democratic Party's ousted leader, Megawati Soekarnoputri, had to get a police permit before she could commemorate the first anniversary of the takeover of the party headquarters on July 27.
Megawati supporter Haryanto Taslam was quoted by Merdeka yesterday as saying that the commemoration would include meditation and tahlilan (Moslems' confession of faith) in several cities, including Jakarta. (imn)