The government will begin providing a special allowance for its soldiers deployed in the country's outermost regions in January, Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on the weekend.
During a weekend visit to Nipah Island, one of Indonesia's outermost islands bordering Singapore, Purnomo said that the special allowance would amount to between 50 and 100 percent of a soldier's monthly basic salary.
He said that the inclusion of the new allowance in the soldiers' monthly pay would take effect on Jan. 1, 2010.
"There are quite a few initiatives that we are looking to finalize as part of the first 100-day program. These include negotiations on boundaries with a number of different parties," Purnomo said.
"Another initiative is the disbursement of a special allowance for Indonesian Military *TNI* soldiers deployed in the outermost border regions. We *the Defense Ministry*, the State Administrative Reforms Ministry, and the Finance Ministry have all reached an agreement on this matter," he said.
Purnomo also added that the planned disbursement of the special allowance was indicative of the government's new commitment to showing care and concern for soldiers deployed in outlying regions.
Purnomo said that the government was also looking to possibly review the assignment period of these soldiers, who currently serve a six-month tour of duty in remote posts before being replaced.
"From a humane point of view, we could perhaps look to review the six-month assignment period," he said.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives Deputy Speaker Priyo Budi Santoso, who also took part in the visit to the small islet, said that the House would support the government's proposal to improve payments for soldiers placed in border regions.
He also said he was supportive of any new plans or initiatives to reduce the assignment period for these soldiers.
"We will ask TNI leaders to consider reducing the assignment period; it shouldn't have to be for six months. It cannot be psychologically healthy to live for six months without the company of neighbors, family and friends, accompanied only by sea waves. As a civilian, I don't have the heart to see such things," Priyo said.
Nipah Island is located in Riau Islands province. It's 80 hectares are patrolled by 30 Navy soldiers, who are rotated every six months.
Purnomo said that the government had been increasing its attention to the country's military, with the military budget for the 2010 fiscal year raised to Rp 43 trillion (US$4.6 billion) from the current Rp 33 trillion.
This increase, according to the minister, was however, still significantly short of what was required. He claimed that up to 60 percent of the 2010 defense budget would be allocated to salaries for soldiers and staff and equipment maintenance costs.
