`TNI chief knew of Sukhoi deal'

`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.