Yuliasri Perdani and Nurni Sulaiman, Jakarta/Balikpapan – Calls have mounted for the Indonesian Military (TNI) to review its primary weapons and other defense equipment in the wake of the deadly crash of an Army Mi-17 helicopter in Malinau regency, North Kalimantan, on Saturday, which claimed 13 lives.
Al Araf, a defense analyst from the human rights organization Imparsial, said the crash should serve as a wake up call for the Defense Ministry, the House of Representatives and the TNI to improve transparency in weapons procurement.
"Once the cause of the incident is found, there should be an evaluation of the TNI's weapons defense systems. There are problems in the procurement and maintenance of military equipment," he said on Sunday.
Al Araf said that military equipment procurements were, at times, inconsistent with the Defense White Book, which guides the country's defense strategy.
"The Defense Ministry proposed the procurement of Leopard tanks although it was not stipulated in the country's defense plan. There is also an indication that the procurement of Sukhoi fighter jets was rife with corruption," he said. Al Araf, however, said that the decision to procure Mi-17 helicopters had been a good one.
"The helicopters help the Army reach remote areas with difficult terrain. Considering Indonesia's geography, the helicopters are urgently needed. But we should scrutinize the procurement and maintenance of the Russian-made helicopters, and whether our army personnel have the capability to fly and maintain the helicopters," he said.
Tubagus Hasanuddin, deputy chairman of the House Commission I overseeing defense, foreign affairs and intelligence, expressed similar concerns. "The crash has raised so many questions because there has been an indication the crash was caused by an engine problem," Tubagus said on Sunday.
Tubagus suspected that the crash could be linked to poor maintenance. "If [the TNI] does not pay attention to the availability of the fleet's spare parts and its maintenance, the fleet will become useless in our national defense and will put more of our soldiers in danger," he said.
Contacted separately, Military spokesman Rear Adm. Iskandar Sitompul said that the TNI had ordered a full maintenance check on the remaining Mi-17 helicopters following the crash.
"After the crash, we currently have 11 fully functioning Mi-17 helicopters in Kalimantan and Papua. We will inspect their engines and communication devices," he said on Sunday.
Iskandar said that all the 12 Mi-17 helicopters, including the one that crashed in North Kalimantan, were purchased between 2008 and 2010. "Prior to the crash in North Kalimantan, two Mi-17 helicopters had experienced minor incidents caused by bad weather and human error," he said.
He said an investigation into the North Kalimantan crash was underway and that its result would be announced in two weeks. "Our investigation team has started its inspection of the crash site," he said.
Meanwhile, in North Kalimantan, a joint rescue team completed the evacuation of crash victims on Sunday afternoon. The crash killed five Army personnel and eight civilians. The six survivors comprised two Army personnel and four civilians.
East Kalimantan Police spokesman Fajar Setiawan said that the remains of the deceased victims had been taken to a hospital in Tarakan, North Kalimantan, for autopsy.
Aircraft accidents
Oct. 11, 2013: Bad weather forces an Army helicopter, a Russian-made MI-17, to land around 600 meters from the runway in Okbibab District, Pegunungan Bintang regency. Minor damage to the helicopter but no casualties.
Aug. 24, 2013: The Indonesian Military (TNI) says a door from one of its training helicopters, a Russian-made MI-17, falls into a residential area in Penjaringan, North Jakarta. No one harmed but the door damages a house and car.
Jan. 6, 2012: A training aircraft, T-34 Charlie, crashes at Kedungsari in Magelang, Central Java. One dead.
June 21, 2012: A Fokker 27 A2708 plane belonging to the Indonesian Air Force crashes at a housing complex in Rajawali near Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, East Jakarta. Ten die: seven passengers and three residents.
April 28, 2011: An Air Force unpowered glider crashes at a sugarcane plantation in Brebah, Sleman, Yogyakarta – Flight instructor First Sgt. Ninang Siwiyono and cadet Sgt Habibut Rohman die.