Indonesian Military Prioritize Border Security Program
Tuesday, 08 April, 2008 | 14:54 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The 10 percent cut in the 2008 state budget influences the National Armed Forces of Indonesia (TNI) programs. Head of the TNI Information Center, First Air Marshal Sagom Tamboen said that the TNI has anticipated the budget cut. One of the things is by prioritizing a program related to sovereignty principles. “Securing the borders, the outer islands, and the air territory, are the priorities,” said Sagom yesterday.

The government has to cut the budget of entire departments including the Defense Department, to prevent more deficits in the state budget due to the high world oil price. Ten percent cut resulted from the meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR). The cut is applied to executive, legislative, and judicative institutions.

Sargom admitted the cuts forced them to postpone some of the program. But he explained that it will not disturb the TNI work performance. Every branch of the armed forces will adjust their budgets, for example reduce their maintenance fees.

Chief of the Indonesian Air Force, Air Marshal Subandrio said that the Air Force has also anticipated the budget cuts by delaying some of the construction program including houses of TNI members. “We reduces the maintenance fees but not for aircraft,” said Subandrio.

Regarding the welfare of TNI members after the budget adjustment, Subandrio said, “We do our best.”

Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said that he will oversee the composition of the budget cuts for his ministry. The budget is usually for operational preparation, capacity building for soldiers, and soldiers’ welfare.

Happy Bone Zulkarnaen, a member of the budget committee, said the 10 percent cuts will reduce the optimal function of defense and security. “This is the government's ambivalence for the defense-security sector,” said a member of the Golkar faction yesterday.

Happy said the government demands the TNI to be professional, but the budget for them is reduced. The Defense Department proposed Rp 100 trillion in the 2008 state budget but only Rp 36 trillion is approved. “The budget for the defense sector without the cuts is limited already,” said a member of the House defense commission.

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