TNI asks for Rp 1.23t for Aceh
TNI asks for Rp 1.23t for Aceh
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has asked for Rp 1.23 trillion
(US$143 million) to finance a six-month operation in Aceh.
"It will be used to finance the needs of soldiers, maintenance
of military equipment and other facilities," TNI chief Gen.
Endriartono Sutarto told House of Representative's Commission I
overseeing defense affairs on Monday.
The funds excluded the TNI's state budget allocation of Rp
11.53 trillion for 2003 for routine spending and Rp 2.41 trillion
for development expenses.
As of May, the TNI has used 39.6 percent of the budget set for
routine expenses and 60.6 percent of the development budget.
The hearing was expected to focus on budget affairs but dozens
of legislators inquired about the TNI's preparations for the
operation in Aceh after the apparent collapse of a peace deal
between the government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists.
TNI expects to deploy between 40,000 and 50,000 troops to the
natural resource-rich province to quell the guerrilla fighters,
whose number is estimated at 5,000.
Endriartono said the TNI was in a need of support from all
parts of the nation, including humanitarian activists, to "win
the hearts and the minds of the Acehnese people".
If the government failed to win the trust of the people of
Aceh, the TNI would be unable to minimize civilian fatalities
during the operation.
He said soldiers would not ask Acehnese civilians to leave
their villages but would force GAM members to do so.
However, he admitted it would be difficult for the security
troops to differentiate between rebels and civilians.
GAM has been waging a guerrilla war for independence since
1976. More than 10,000 people, mainly civilians, have been
killed.
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The Indonesian Military (TNI) has asked for Rp 1.23 trillion
(US$143 million) to finance a six-month operation in Aceh.
"It will be used to finance the needs of soldiers, maintenance
of military equipment and other facilities," TNI chief Gen.
Endriartono Sutarto told House of Representative's Commission I
overseeing defense affairs on Monday.
The funds excluded the TNI's state budget allocation of Rp
11.53 trillion for 2003 for routine spending and Rp 2.41 trillion
for development expenses.
As of May, the TNI has used 39.6 percent of the budget set for
routine expenses and 60.6 percent of the development budget.
The hearing was expected to focus on budget affairs but dozens
of legislators inquired about the TNI's preparations for the
operation in Aceh after the apparent collapse of a peace deal
between the government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists.
TNI expects to deploy between 40,000 and 50,000 troops to the
natural resource-rich province to quell the guerrilla fighters,
whose number is estimated at 5,000.
Endriartono said the TNI was in a need of support from all
parts of the nation, including humanitarian activists, to "win
the hearts and the minds of the Acehnese people".
If the government failed to win the trust of the people of
Aceh, the TNI would be unable to minimize civilian fatalities
during the operation.
He said soldiers would not ask Acehnese civilians to leave
their villages but would force GAM members to do so.
However, he admitted it would be difficult for the security
troops to differentiate between rebels and civilians.
GAM has been waging a guerrilla war for independence since
1976. More than 10,000 people, mainly civilians, have been
killed.