Deputy Mefense Minister visits Bunaken for ARF-DIREX 2011

Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia (Feb. 12, 2005) – Two U.S. Navy Sailors carry an injured Indonesian man on a stretcher from an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five (HC-5), at Albadin University Hospital in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. The man received medical treatment aboard the Military Sealift Command (MSC) hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). Mercy is serving as an enabling platform to assist humanitarian operations ashore in ways that host nations and international relief organization find useful. Mercy is currently off the waters of Indonesia in support of Operation Unified Assistance, the humanitarian relief effort to aid the victims of the tsunami that struck Southeast Asia. (Photo: U.S. Navy /Journalist 1st Class Joshua Smith)

October 2, 2010, Manado, North Sulawesi - Deputy Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin visited Bunaken island, Manado, North Sulawesi, Saturday to inspect preparations for International ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise (ARF-DIREX) which will be held in Manado in March next year.

On the occasion Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin was accompanied by North Sulawesi Governor Sinyo Harry Sarundajang and representatives of the social affairs ministry, National Disaster management (BNPB) and others.

ARF DIREX manages natural disasters and to be attended by 27 countries and co-chaired by Indonesia and Japan.

The strategic momentum will be used by Indonesia to serve its national interests, including handling natural disasters and improve coordination and establish cooperation between civil and military and integrate cooperation between the central and regional governments.

"The current preparations are already one-third completed," he said.

Sjafrie said the reason for holding the event in Manado is serving the political aspect (as a ARF decision), strategic position of Manado, and experience and leadership aspects.

According to him, the main goals of the event were to achieve good management in handling natural disasters and tourism.

"The role of the local administrations is absolutely needed in the event. As many as 27 countries will take part in the event next year," he said.

According to schedule, the deputy defense minister also visited Wori sub-district to inspect preparations for ARF DIREX in Wori sub-district.

ANTARA News

Defense ministry moves to increase budget

Minister of Defence Purnomo Yusgiantoro (middle) wear a "G Suit" before taking off on a Sukhoi SU 30 MK2 at squadron 11, Sultan Hasannudin airforce base, Makassar, on Monday (27/9). He was on air for 25 minutes to try the reliability of Russian made fighter jet. (Photo: ANTARA/pandu dewantara/kunto)

September 29, 2010, Jakarta - The Ministry of Defense has proposed that the government allocate an extra Rp 57 trillion (US$6.3 billion) over the coming five years to procure new arms and maintain war machines.

Defense Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro said on Wednesday the government could cover the deficit from the foreign exchange reserves, which currently reach $78 billion.

“We need endorsement from the finance minister. For the time being we are struggling to win the approval,” Purnomo said as quoted by kompas.com.

The National Development Planning Board had allocated Rp 100 trillion for defense budget for 2010-2014, down from Rp 157 trillion demanded by the Defense Ministry.

Purnomo dismissed the public’s worry about the use of the whopping defense budget, citing the multi-layer supervision of the budget use in place.

Indonesia plans to buy six more Sukhoi fighter jets from Russia and two submarines in the coming five years to boost its defense capability.

Accidents involving aging war machines were rampant in the last few years amid limited defense budget. One third of the budget used to be spent on soldiers’ salary and allowance.

The Jakarta Post