Jakarta – President Abdurrahman Wahid said Indonesia must develop its own military industries, diversify its weapons- sourcing and move away from dependence on the United States.
"We have been very dependent on one side – not only economically dependent but also in arms. We have been made dependent on the United States. Therefore, I have always thought from the start – reduce that dependence on one single side," he said.
Speaking during a visit to the headquarters of the Indonesian Air Force Special Command in Bandung, West Java, on Saturday, he said Indonesia had many industries which could be upgraded, with a little effort, to produce modern weapons.
He cited the Nusantara state aircraft industry, the state-owned Dahana firm that produces explosives, national shipyard PT PAL and ammunition-and-weapons-maker PT Pindad.
"We have been able to buy so far only with loans and this should no longer be allowed," he said. "We are a great nation and we must have our own military industry."
The country could learn from the successes of China and India in developing their own military industries, he said, adding that Jakarta should not worry about any backlash should it reduce its dependence on Washington for arms. "They also need us. Without us, security in this region is not guaranteed," he argued.
Indonesia's dependence on US arms was most evident in its air force, which relies on US-made F-16s as its backbone, but Jakarta has already begun to diversify, buying two squadrons of British- made Hawks.
In May 1997, Indonesia also cancelled the planned purchase of nine F-16s after the sale was blocked by the US Congress over Indonesia's human rights record. Jakarta then began to look to Russia as an alternative source, but any purchase had to be postponed because of the economic crisis that hit Indonesia and other Asian countries.
President Abdurrahman pledged to work to modernise the equipment and arms for the air force after being told that the 3,000-strong Air Force Special Command was equipped mostly with weaponry dating back to the 1950s. He also said that in view of the importance of safeguarding Indonesia's wide expanse of air territory, the command should be expanded.
"We have so many airports but the forces are so small, and because of this, we should increase the number of personnel to 6,000," he said, without giving details on the number of airports or airbases the country has.
"The Air Force Special Command has the heavy duty of safeguarding Indonesian sovereignty over its airspace and, therefore, we should accord some attention to it," he said, adding: "Hopefully, we have enough money for that."