Print

Mail

wiki links

Indonesian leader to be investigated over jet purchase

Parliament is launching a probe into alleged irregularities in the purchase of Russian fighter jets -- a potentially damaging political scandal for President Megawati Sukarnoputri ahead of next year's general elections.

The scandal revolves around the purchase of four Sukhoi jet fighters and two MI-35 helicopters. Megawati signed the US$192.6 million deal to buy the aircraft during a visit to Moscow in April.

Opposition lawmakers have accused Megawati's administration of violating legal requirements to channel all military purchases through the defense ministry. She instead bought the aircraft using funds reserved for natural disasters.

"The government has violated the law," parliamentary defense commission member Rizal Djalil said yesterday. "There are a lot of people who could stand to enjoy a huge amount of money through commissions and markups."

Parliament has established a committee that meets next week to begin its investigation. The panel already has announced plans to summon Cabinet ministers and try to question Russia's ambassador to Jakarta.

Graft scandals have a history of causing trouble for governments in Indonesia, where corruption is widespread. In 2001, the country's highest legislative body forced Megawati's predecessor, Abdurrahman Wahid, from power after a scandal involving the misuse of state funds.

Although it remains too early to say whether the fighter jet affair will cause serious problems for Megawati, it comes at a time when the president is trying to galvanize political support ahead of next year's elections.

Megawati's political party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, lacks a majority in Parliament, making her reliant on other parties. The lack of a clear majority makes for heavy politicking, which partly explains why political scandals surface so regularly.

"Megawati has clearly violated several procedures in purchasing the planes," The Jakarta Post said in an editorial. "There is speculation that some people are reaping financial profits from this deal."

Megawati's administration has not responded to the allegations of impropriety. She has spent the last eight days overseas on a tour of Asian countries and is scheduled to return to Jakarta tomorrow.

Questions have also been raised over the logic of Indonesia's cash-strapped government buying new high-tech fighters when much of the military is ill-equipped with even basic weaponry. Navy ships and air force planes often sit idle for lack of fuel or maintenance.

The government previously had defended the Russian purchases, saying a US arms embargo against Indonesia has grounded much its fleet of US-made fighter jets.
This story has been viewed 1909 times.