House members unhappy with military defense secrets

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 03/04/2008 11:11 AM | National

The Defense Ministry was urged by the House of Representatives on Monday to provide details about the real problems it faces and its contingency plan to cope with a possible budget cut this fiscal year.

Happy Bone Zulkarnain of Golkar faction told Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono and Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Djoko Santoso such transparency could help the legislators fight for the ministry to receive its full budget, during a hearing at the House.

The Finance Ministry has proposed budget cuts for all governmental offices by 15 percent following skyrocketing global oil prices, which hit US$100 per barrel last week, in a state budget revision being deliberated at the House.

The House's Commission I on defense, security and foreign affairs rejected the government's plan to slash the defense budget, which amounts to Rp 36.4 trillion ($4.04 billion), up from Rp 28 trillion in 2007, Rp 27 trillion in 2006 and Rp 25 trillion in 2005.

The lawmakers insisted that the cut would endanger national defense and security.

"We need detailed information on how hard the situation you may face is in order to press ahead with demands that the government drop the proposed reduction," Happy told the minister.

Happy said the lawmakers could not grasp the urgent needs of the ministry.

"We are fighting for the interests of the ministry but it seems to me that the budget reduction has upset us more than you," he said.

Happy said although the budget was up from last year, the percentage of the state budget allocated for defense spending had actually dwindled since 2004.

"Now the government wants to cut even further by 15 percent or some Rp 5.3 trillion. I am wondering how we can demand the soldiers maintain professionalism if we do not promise them a better future," he said.

Juwono told the hearing the budget cut, if any, would not affect soldiers' salaries. He said the ministry might save the spending for new weaponry.

Lawmaker Permadi of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) told the hearing the President should provide alternatives to enable the Defense Ministry to overcome financial constraints resulting from the tight budget policy.

Djoko Susilo of National Mandate Party (PAN) suggested that the House schedule a consultation meeting with President Bambang Susilo Yudhoyono to discuss the matter.

The financial crisis and arms embargos have adversely affected Indonesia's defense capabilities. Since 1999 the Government has sought alternative sources of arms. Recently, the president suggested empowering the domestic defense industry through joint arms production with other countries.

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