Jakarta – An inter-ministerial work group is now investigating the existence of military businesses.

"How many businesses that will be handled will depend on the findings of the work group," Indonesian Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono told reporters after opening a workshop on Security Strength Professionalism at the Arya Duta Hotel in Jakarta on Tuesday (22/02).

The group consists of four ministries – the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights and the Ministry of Defense – and has been established not to get rid of businesses under Indonesian Military (TNI) institutions.

The team will work to straighten up the accountability and transparency of the companies that were once managed by military people.

The purpose of the team being established is to monitor and measure the government's target for the welfare of military personnel to be accountable and transparent. "Up to now, benefits from military business are still enjoyed by the upper echelon of the military elite," stated Sudarsono.

He added that the Finance Ministry will be responsible for budget management bearing in mind that military businesses are greatly related to the limited state budget.

The Indonesian Justice and Human Rights Ministry will manage the establishment of legal instruments while the SOEs Ministry will take care of the establishment of business units within the military.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ministry of Defense will take care of the strategies for the management policies of the military businesses. "The President has said that help is to be given to straighten out military businesses," stated Sudarsono, quoting Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. (Agus Supriyanto-Tempo News Room)