Russia, France favorites for jet fighter deal

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)