Margareth S. Aritonang and Mustaqim Adamrah, Jakarta – The Association of Indonesian Students in Germany and the German branch of the Islamic Organization Nahdatul Ulama (NU) protested against the visit of House of Representatives members to the country on Tuesday.

The association says the visit by members of Commission I overseeing defense, international affairs and communications and information technology would cause nothing but Rp 3.1 billion (US$337,900) in state budget spending.

Association representative Sugih Hartono read a list of demands in a meeting that was held at the Indonesian Embassy in Berlin, Germany, and was attended by embassy and Indonesian consulate general officials, House commission members and their family members and association members.

The House delegation, led by Democratic Party politician Hayono Isman, included Tantowi Yahya and Muhammad Rusman of the Golkar Party, Venna Melinda and Nurhayati Ali Assegaf of the Democratic Party, and Tri Tamtomo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

"We are asking representatives of the people to be transparent and publish your foreign trips complete with the fund needed on the House of Representatives' official website at least one month before departure," Sugih said.

He demanded House members publish the results of the visit on the website and the media.

"We are asking for your understanding not to lavishly spend our money by flying thousands of kilometers only for a hearing with the embassy's officials," Sugih said. "You can use the technology of teleconference while you are in Indonesia."

Association members left the meeting room after the reading of the statement, and uploaded the video of the reading of the statement on www.youtube.com on Wednesday. (ued)