TNI wants a squadron of Sukhoi jets next year
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Following the arrival of two Russian-made Sukhoi jets on Wednesday and another two this weekend, the Indonesian Military (TNI) plans to purchase at least another 10 next year to build a complete squadron of Sukhoi warplanes.
TNI Chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said on Thursday that the new squadron will provide TNI with adequate air defense.
"We want the government to allocate the funds for next years purchase of Sukhois, so we can have one squadron of 12 or 16 warplanes," Endriartono told reporters after seeing off President Megawati Soekarnoputri at Halim Perdanakusumah airport.
Megawati is visiting Malaysia and Thailand.
Endriartono, however, did not further specify the Sukhois that would be purchased next year.
Two Su-27MK jets arrived at Iswahyudi airbase in East Java on Wednesday, while the other two Su-30Sk jets are expected to arrive either on Saturday or Sunday.
Endriartono also said TNI was currently discussing details of the purchase with other departments, including with the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
His statement came amid the current furor between the government and the House of Representatives regarding the purchase of the four Sukhoi jets.
The purchase became controversial as it involved the State Logistics Agency (Bulog), which provided a downpayment for the purchase.
The House established a special inquiry team within the Commission I on defense and foreign affairs, alleging that the government had violated the budget law and other regulations in purchasing the jets.
In spite of the domestic debacle, the US$192.6 million Sukhoi deal -- involving a counter trade with dozens of Indonesian commodities -- went ahead uninterrupted.
Endriartono contended that the government continued with the deal as the House had earlier suggested TNI improve its defense system.
"We bought the planes because the House supported the idea that we have to empower our defense capacity," the general said.
TNI has been suffering from arms embargoes by the United States, its major source of weapons in the past three-decades.
The U.S. House recently rejected a proposal to lift the embargo, citing last year's lethal ambush against American citizens in Timika, Papua province, allegedly involving TNI members.
Meanwhile, the House's inquiry into the Sukhoi deal, which started last July, will continue its investigation by questioning Minister of Industry and Trade Rini MS Soewandi on Sept. 1.
The inquiry team is expected to publish the results of its works and recommendations on Sept.3.
Inquiry team chairman Ibrahim Ambong of Golkar Party faction refused to disclose a preview of the results and recommendations.
But, team member Effendy Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) revealed that the team would recommend the government punish those involved in the controversial deal.
A member of the House's budget committee, Ridwan Mukti, meanwhile said that, until today, the legislators had not approved the demands of the government -- to use the state budget for the procurement of Sukhoi jet fighters.
Ridwan said that he would not care if the total payment for the four Sukhois was settled by Bulog.