M. Taufiqurrahman, Jakarta – The Aceh-Nias Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Agency (BRR) is coming under fire for allocating funds to security and intelligence operations by the Indonesian Military (TNI) in Aceh.

Rights watchdog the Aceh Working Group (AWG) said on Friday that the BRR had violated military laws by earmarking more than Rp 400 billion (about US$44 million) in its 2005 budget for security operations in Aceh and Nias.

The allocation was deemed irrelevant to the BRR's primary task of helping Aceh recover from a devastating tsunami, especially since the funds set aside for military operations dwarfed those allocated for children's education and women's empowerment.

"All the money that the BRR received from donors should go to victims of the tsunami and not TNI soldiers. International donors should question this because their money was not used for reconstruction purposes," Choirul Anam of AWG said.

A document obtained by The Jakarta Post indicates that the BRR earmarked Rp 285 billion for defense operations and another Rp 122 billion for security operations. The document shows that an intelligence operation got Rp 416 million and strategic intelligence received Rp 1.08 billion.

A substantial amount of the money was earmarked for developing the defense capabilities of individual military forces in Aceh and Nias. In total, funds allocated for security and defense make up 11 percent of the BRR budget for 2005. Education and children's empowerment make up less than 4 percent.

BRR chief Koentoro Mangkusubroto has argued that the allocation of funds for security and defense is part of the effort to safeguard reconstruction projects.

AWG dismissed Kuntoro's statement, saying Aceh did not need such operations as it was no longer in an emergency situation. "There are no longer threats to security in Aceh. Besides, the post-disaster emergency period has ended," fellow AWG activist Rafendi Djamin said.

Rafendi said problems would arise when the BRR had to account for its use of the funds. "The only institution authorized to scrutinize the military budget is the House of Representatives. But what about the funds disbursed by the BRR, as the agency answers only to the finance ministry," he said, adding that such a breach of procedures was also vulnerable to corruption.

Responding to the criticism, BRR said what was classified as security in Aceh and Nias in fact was the reconstruction of military facilities that were destroyed by the tsunami.

"Come to Aceh now and you will see brand new barracks and offices for army and police personnel (to replace those) that were destroyed by the tsunami," BRR spokesman Mirza Keumala told the Post.

Mirza said the money for reconstructing military and police facilities was drawn from the state budget. "It, therefore, has won approval from the House," he said.