Markus Junianto Sihaloho, Jakarta – The House of Representatives will call up the Indonesian armed forces chief to answer to allegations that soldiers' pay was cut and a recent report that 144 servicemen in Papua tested positive for HIV.

Tubagus Hasanuddin, a legislator from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), said on Tuesday that the recent reports came as a shock to House Commission I, which oversees security affairs. "We'll summon military chief [Gen. Djoko Santoso] and ask him to clarify," he said.

News of the pay cut was unearthed earlier this week by Commission I legislators on a working visit to the Belawan Naval Base in North Sumatra.

Deputy commission chairman Hayono Isman, from the Democratic Party, said some soldiers had reported that they only received Rp 23,000 ($2.55) a day in meal allowances, far less than the Rp 43,000 they were entitled to. "This problem could indicate some sort of misconduct higher up the chain of command," he said.

Military spokesman Maj. Gen. Aslizar Tanjung denied the allegation, saying on Thursday that the legislators had been lied to. "We never issued any such policy to slash the soldiers' food allowance," he said.

"All their extra pay, including for meals or special assignments or the like, is to be paid out in full," Aslizar said, adding that the military actually had plans to raise the allowances.

Aslizar cited recent lobbying by the military and Defense Ministry to get the House to approve measures that would boost the welfare of soldiers stationed along border areas. He said the planned increases would be double the current level for soldiers posted to inhabited outlying islands, and two-and-a-half times for those posted to uninhabited islands.

Aslizar said the military was also seeking special allowances for soldiers in Papua and East Nusa Tenggara province, as well as for those involved in mobile, aerial and naval patrols. "Given all the efforts we're making to improve soldiers' welfare, it's strange to hear complaints about a pay cut," he said.

Navy spokesman First Admiral Heri Setianegara also denied the allegation, saying on Thursday that the Navy had conducted an internal review of the matter and had found no evidence of pay cuts. "If such an illegal thing did happen, it would be very inhumane," he said.

Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. I Wayan Midhio said his office was conducting an investigation into the allegation.

Meanwhile, House Commission I also intends to question military chief Djoko over a recent report that 144 of the 15,000 soldiers at the Cendrawasih Army Base in Papua had tested positive for HIV. A spokesman at the base said four had since died, while the base had the highest HIV prevalence in the country.

Tubagus said the military should consider discharging these soldiers because "they could never do their job effectively." "Of course, the military must continue providing them with medical treatment," he added.

The military says it is carrying out an awareness and education campaign to disseminate information among soldiers about the dangers of HIV and how to prevent infection.