TNI, police to get more money in new budget

TNI, police to get more money in new budget

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police will be among four priorities for extra funding in next year's budget, a minister said on Thursday.

"The planned increase should not be regarded as the return of a 'militaristic' state, rather as the means to improve the 'absolutely low standard' of military and police equipment," State Minister of National Development Planning Kwik Kian Gie said.

Kwik, speaking to reporters after a Cabinet meeting on economic affairs, did not give figures for next year's budget. He said the funds would also be used to improve infrastructure, education and health.

A House of Representatives budget committee agreed last Friday to allocate an additional Rp 1 trillion (US$113 million) to the security forces -- Rp 650 billion for the TNI and Rp 350 billion for the police.

The TNI, battling separatist insurgences and religious unrest around the country, has complained that budget limitations have forced many ships and aircraft out of service.

Reports have said that only 30 percent of the Navy's 117 ships and 45 percent of the Air Force's 220 planes are operaerational. --AFP