`TNI chief knew of Sukhoi deal'

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The probe into the Sukhoi deal is set to expand following a revelation that the Indonesian Military (TNI) Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto bypassed Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil when procuring the Russian jet fighters and helicopters.

In a letter dated April 22, 2003, Endriartono, on behalf of the Ministry of Defense, appointed the State Logistics Agency (Bulog) to discuss the procurement of Sukhoi jet fighters and Mi- 35 assault helicopters with Russia.

Endriartono said in the letter, addressed to Russia's Rosoboronexport firm, that the purchase of the aircraft was exclusively for the use by the Indonesian defense forces and that they would not be re-exported or donated to any third party.

Under the law as it now stands, only the Ministry of Defense has the authority to buy military equipment and weapons.

Based on the letter, the House inquiry concluded that Endriartono was involved from the very beginning in the deal, which is worth US$192.6 million.

"We will therefore summon the TNI chief to clarify his earlier statement," inquiry chairman Ibrahim Ambong of Golkar told the press.

Earlier, Endriartono had told the House that he had no knowledge about deal.

Minister of Defense Matori Abdul Djalil repeatedly said that he was not invited to discuss the Sukhoi procurement.

The team said it would hear explanations from Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi on Tuesday evening.

Committee members said on Wednesday they would summon President Megawati Soekarnoputri to explain her decision to purchase Sukhois.

While most analysts and politicians ruled out the possibility of exploiting the scandal to unseat Megawati, many believe that the growing scandal could severely affect her chances in the 2004 presidential bid.

In the fourth day of the investigation into the highly politicized case, the inquiry, set up by the House of Representatives Commission I, summoned Sudar, the director of international trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Bulog chief Widjarnako Puspoyo to shed light on the deal.

Widjanarko said he received two letters from the minister of industry and trade and the TNI chief on April 14 and April 22 respectively.

He emphasized that before the deal for the purchase of the Russian aircraft was signed on April 24, the Indonesian Military had discussed the specifications of the aircraft.

He disclosed that the 600-page specifications document was attached to the contract between Bulog and Rosoboronexport.

"Don't think that the (Sukhoi) deal was completed within two days. The technical specifications (of the aircraft) had been discussed months ago between high-ranking military officers and officials of Rosoboronexport in Jakarta," Widjanarko added.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade's director, Sudar, told a different story, however. According to him, the main purpose of the minister's visit to Russia was to seek a market for Indonesian commodities.

Sudar emphasized that Russia offered the Sukhoi jet fighters and Indonesia found the terms attractive.

Widjanarko denied that the purchase of the Sukhois had caused a decline in the price of rice.

He said the decrease in rice prices was because of oversupply due to the recent harvest. According to Widjanarko, the amount of rice harvested reached 53 million tons.

He added that Bulog had bought 2.4 million tons, some 400,000 tons more than the previous season.

Since the inquiry has no authority to summon officials at the ministerial level, Endriartono would be summoned by the House defense commission.

Regarding the important role of the TNI chief in the Sukhoi deal, Djoko Susilo of the Reform faction said an earlier statement by the TNI chief could be categorized as lying to the public.

Article 5 of Law No.24/2000 on international agreements states that any state institution intending to enter into an international contract must consult with the relevant minister.

Meanwhile, the New Indonesia Alliance Party (PIB) said the purchase of the Sukhois had not only breached the procedures but also violated the Constitution and laws.