Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – To reduce its arms imports, Indonesia plans to increase the production of its various military equipment to at least 16 percent of its total defense needs.
Research and Technology Minister Kusmayanto Kadiman said Wednesday the Defense Ministry has agreed to increase its domestic purchase of military equipment from 6 percent to 16 percent within two years.
"Both the President and the Vice President have said we must not import any equipment that we can produce domestically. We should not be afraid as we have the capability to fulfill various military needs," Kusmayanto told The Jakarta Post after speaking at a business forum in Jakarta.
He said that with the 10 percent increase in domestic expenses Indonesia would save much money, as the country's total military expenses for equipment were worth Rp 23 trillion per year.
"Police and military have begun placing many orders to our local companies. The prices of these local products are 50 percent lower than those of imported products with almost similar quality," he said.
For naval needs, Kusmayanto said, PT PAL in the East Java capital of Surabaya could produce all armed or unarmed patrol boats as well as warships with or without radar systems.
Fast patrol boats could have a range of sizes, from 14 meters to 58 meters, he added.
For the Air Force, PT Dirgantara Indonesia in Bandung, West Java, have managed to produce various kinds of airplanes, with or without radar systems, as well as personnel and logistic carriers, and war planes, Kusmayanto said.
"PT Pindad in Bandung can produce bullets, machine guns, pistols, grenades, transport vehicles, and ground battle vehicles. So, we actually can supply our military with some part of its needs," he said. Indonesia has been facing difficulties in getting its defense equipment intact after the United States imposed restrictions on military sales over concerns about human rights abuses, blamed on the Indonesian Military (TNI) in East Timor in 1991. The US Congress has imposed various restrictions since 1992.
The ban forced Indonesia to look for new arms suppliers, including Russia. Alleged purchases from "grey markets" were also an option as the 14-year arms embargo left the TNI badly in need of new equipment.
However, considering Indonesia a strategic partner in fighting terrorism, last November the U.S issued a waiver removing all remaining congressional restrictions on its military assistance to Indonesia.
In February, the Bush administration proposed a six and a half fold increase in foreign military financing for Indonesia.
But some military analysts here say the Americans are clearly not moving quickly enough.
On April 9, a group of arms dealers for TNI, including two Indonesian Air Force officers, was arrested by the American Federal Bureau of Investigation for allegedly attempting to make an illegal US$40 million purchase from an unnamed US company.
Subsequent indictments revealed that they went to Honolulu to buy 245 air-to-air Sidewinder missiles, 882 Heckler & Koch MP5 guns, 880 HK 9mm handguns, 16 HK sniper rifles, 5000 rounds of ammunition and an aviation radar system.
"We have now the political will to produce our own military equipment. Many, however, see the imports as an opportunity for corruption. We must eradicate such practices immediately," Kusmayanto said.