TNI commander sees no violation in Sukhoi jet purchase
TNI commander sees no violation in Sukhoi jet purchase
Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on
Tuesday the defense ministry was not involved in the procurement
of four Sukhoi jet fighters and two helicopters from Russia, the
funds for which came from the budget of the industry and trade
ministry.
Speaking before members of the House of Representatives
Commission I for defense, Endriartono also insisted the US$192.6
million deal did not violate any laws.
According to existing laws, the procurement of all military
equipment must be done through the defense ministry, regardless
of where the money for the purchase comes from.
Defense minister Matori Abdul Djalil told the House last month
that his ministry had no knowledge of the deal.
Matori's statement was supported by Maj. Gen. Sudradjat,
director general for defense strategy at the defense ministry,
who told a House inquiry team on Monday that he was not asked to
discuss the procurement.
Endriartono said on Tuesday the industry and trade ministry
took the lead in the deal, and the defense ministry was bypassed
because the funds for the deal were not taken from the defense
budget.
Members of Commission I said on Tuesday the deal violated
standard procedures by bypassing the defense ministry.
"House Commission I and the TNI chief have different opinions.
The TNI chief says the leader of the Sukhoi deal was the industry
and trade ministry, while the commission insists the procurement
violated existing laws," Commission I deputy chairman Effendy
Choirie said after the hearing.
Legislators referred to Article 16 (6) of Law No. 3/2002 on
defense, which states the minister of defense determines policy
in the budgeting, procurement, recruitment and management of
national resources, as well as the development of the technology
needed by the Indonesian Military.
"No matter how the procurement is accomplished, be it trade or
counter-purchase, the leader must be the defense ministry," said
Choirie, who was accompanied by Rizal Djalil and Djoko Susilo of
the Reform faction.
All of the information obtained from the TNI chief during the
hearing will be given to the House's ad hoc committee of inquiry
into the deal, which will make a recommendation to the House as
to what action it should take on the matter.
During the hearing, Endriartono said the procurement of the
Russian jet fighters had been discussed since 1996, when an
Indonesia delegation visited Russia.
That visit, headed by the defense ministry's director for
general planning and budget, produced a memorandum of
understanding of the purchase in April 1996.
Endriartono said the memorandum of understanding was an
"umbrella" for military logistics cooperation between Indonesia
and Russia. It was signed by the defense ministry's then
director, Maj. Gen. I Made Sadha, and Boris H. Yasipenko of
Russia.
On April 24, 1997, officials from Russia's companies Knaapo
and Rosvooushenei presented prototypes of the Su-27 SK and Su-30
MK jet fighters, and the Mi-71 and Mi-35 helicopters to an
Indonesian delegation.
On August 29, 1997, TNI Headquarters and Russia's
Rosvooroushenie agreed to the purchase of 12 Su-30 K and eight
Mi-71 helicopters.
Then after years of uncertainty, Indonesia and Russia
organized a meeting of senior officials in September of last year
in preparation for President Megawati Soekarnoputri's visit to
Russia.
On Feb. 20 the defense ministry's director of defense
equipment, Maj. Gen. Aqlani Maza, and Russia's director of
military technical cooperation, Maj. Gen. VK Dzirkalin, signed an
agreement on military technical cooperation.
Also on Tuesday, the House commission was to hear from
Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi, but the meeting
was canceled because the minister had to attend a meeting in
Central Sulawesi on the development of eastern Indonesia.
Choirie said the commission would again summon the industry
and trade minister to hear her explanation of the controversial
deal.