Ridwan Max Sijabat, Jakarta – Legislators have accused Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono of a half-hearted commitment to effecting internal reform of the military, evidenced by a lack of accountability in arms procurement and a recent illegal arms scandal.
They said the arms stash found last week at the home of deceased Army Brig. Gen. Koesmayadi underlined the problems between the Defense Ministry and Indonesian Military (TNI).
Djoko Susilo, a member of the House of Representatives' Commission I on defense, information and foreign affairs, said his commission was disappointed with the minister's performance after almost two years in office.
"The minister's appearing less reformist than the military officials in his office is part of the problem in the stagnant internal reform in the military. The lax rules and the absence of accountability in arms procurements have a lot to do with the minister's failure to enforce Law No. 34/2004 on the TNI," he told The Jakarta Post here Thursday.
He cited as examples the minister's agreement to the purchase of Rp 362 billion (US$39.8 million) Yakhont missile chipsets from Russia by the Navy, as well as the Air Force purchasing Rp 152 billion Sukhoi warplane spare parts from the same nation, despite the commission's strong objections. "According to the law, the Defense Ministry is allowed to ask for consideration from TNI Headquarters and its forces in arms procurement," he added.
Effendi Choirie, a legislator from the National Awakening Party (PKB), noted Juwono's personal capabilities, good reputation and adequate knowledge and work experience in military circles, but believed he lacked the courage to push for the completion of internal reform, including the execution of the one-door policy in the arms procurement.
"The minister should adhere to the one-door policy to prevent military officers from stashing arms and committing corrupt practices in arms procurement. He also should clean his office of active servicemen to uphold civilian supremacy and allow him freedom in making necessary policies and implementing them." Both men believed he was capable of pushing through change if he wished.
They also said the government needed to improve the welfare of military personnel due to the takeover of military businesses and the barring of military involvement in politics.
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono should issue a presidential regulation to put the military organization under the Defense Ministry, they added, and appoint civilian professionals to strategic positions in the ministry to help him.
"The portfolio in the ministry needs professionals, and not politicians," said Djoko. He added the police institutional structure should be revamped to be put under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry to avoid jealousy among military personnel.
Juwono acknowledged that weak supervision at his office had contributed to the absence of accountability in arms procurement, including illegal possession of arms among military officers, but said it was a common bureaucratic problem.
"I confess this is part of the weak supervisory system in all layers of the administration, including in the Defense Ministry and the other ministry I was previously in charge of," he said after conferring the Bintang Kartika Eka Paksi award to Singapore Army chief Maj. Gen. Desmond Kwek at his office. He was previously education minister.
He said he would gradually review the management of arms procurement at TNI Headquarters, the three forces, their units and military partner companies both at home and overseas.
Asked about the probe into the arms stash, Juwono said he entrusted the military police with the task of conducting a thorough investigation.
"If crimes are found in the case, they will be processed by the military police in a military tribunal and a further investigation could be conducted by the National Intelligence Agency." Army chief Gen. Djoko Santoso, who accompanied the minister at the ceremony, declined to give a full update on the progress in the investigation, but said 35 witnesses had been questioned.
He also said Koesmayadi's son-in-law, a commandant of the military police unit in the presidential guard, was confined to his home to prevent interference from "wanted officers".