The Simultaneous Local Election and The Buying of Helicopter AW 101, How Do We Understand It?

In the occasion of the implementation of the simultaneous local election, we were just finished to hold the ballot day on Wednesday 15, 2017 to elect the new respective Governor and Vice Governor for the period of 2017-2022. The local election that was just implemented to be considered as one of the national political peak of this country we hope until end of this year around ten months ahead.  

It has been just around two weeks before the ballot day the people have been woken up by various surprised news that made the  situation became dynamic and challenging. Various incidences or dramatic stories have irrupted startling the people who had been so far continuously presented with conflicting problem among political leaders and groups of societies.

We likely noted that there have been a number of issues startled us and temporarily likely stopped just because we are waiting for the official news about the result of the ballot day in the  relation of the Regional Election that to be believed would provoke another social, political and may be economic problem to us the Indonesian.

The eminent information had appeared within this two weeks that were predicted to have startled the people are the accusation of making illegal telephone interception by a suspected official intelligence to the telephone conversation between former President SBY and Chief of MUI;  The sudden of irruption of the news on the conflicting buying of the new helicopter for the VVIP involving President Jokowi, Defense Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu, Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Gatot Nurmantyo and former Chief of Staff of the Indonesia National Air Force Marshal Agus Soepriatna and concurrently also the new Chief of Staff of the Indonesian National Air Force Marshal Hadi Tjahyanto; The Reinstallment of Ahok as the Active Governor of Jakarta after the period of regional campaign  finished ; The accusation on the political conspiracy done by Antasari and the Palace' Officials to discredit former President SBY as the political concept to destroy the candidacy of Agus Harimurti in the local election.

The problem of number one, number three and number four are more  considered as political motivated but the problem of number two is considered as the only the management problem affected by lack communication and coordination. Accordingly the problem of number two is considered easier to be complete description.
Based on the consideration this article is intended to support the people interested in this problem in trying to make a kind of analysis that hopefully could make easily to understand the problem clearly and correctly, However this analysis is purely  composed based on the information circulated in the media.

The Buying of Helicopter AW 101

Aside from all of the busy agenda in watching the implementation of the legional election it is predicted the  information about the conflicting policy of the buying of the new helicopter for VVIP is still in the mind of many people  especially who are living in Jakarta to think it, considering Jakarta is the location of the Central Government of the Republic of Indonesia.
 
Some time within the last two weeks an attractive event to have happened within the internal of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and to become the spectacular news and comment concerning both the management and the leadership of the Indonesia National Armed Forces. Unfortunately President Jokowi who knew the situation and authorize to make the cool solution apparently did not make the urgent step to limit the impact of this event.  
 
Being a wise leader President Jokowi likely wait more clear information about the background of information of the problem before he moves. Unluckily this kind of situation had provoked a number of comment andproposal among the Observers, Politician and a member of the House of Representatives.

It is wondering that this unusual situation has been created as insulting news against mainly the Indonesian leadership to be transcript by various foreign influence news agencies operating in Indonesia. It is also wondered that a number of the members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces felt sad and shy weakening their "sense of belonging". Watching the news apparently this unintended news is concerning the buying of helicopter from Air space Industry of Agasta Westland of Italia by the Indonesian National Air Force, on be half of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and under the coordination of the Defense Ministry.
Now the helicopter is parking in a airplane parking place in Wing I of Halim Perdana Kusuma Air Force base in East Jakarta, but it is likely in the condition of disputable.

Unfortunately the freedom of the Press is causing the information about this helicopter has been spreading freely in all around the country. The news about this problem is really attractive and people wish the clear clarification is soon to be made by the most authorize institution. Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, General Wiranto said, that there is no any problem concerning this helicopter, the related problem is only minor case to happen just because of lack of communication and lack of coordination concerning this modern Weapon System. He promised to clear up the problem soon.

This article is intended to describe that the buying of the helicopter to have been done in normal procedure and done based on regular management process by the responsible officials concern, but in the situation of lack of communication and unfortunately the freedom of the Press and open information policy to have made easy chance for the media to get the confidential information and even the leaking of the classified information and released it in the media. The step was made to stop releasing the basic information, but again it is too late because some Obsever, Politician and even a member of the House of Representative to have thought that something wrong has happened and released their view in the media.

Appreciation was likely good to be granted to the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, General Wiranto who was trying to stop discussing publicly the invisible story that happened within the Defense community of Indonesia. This incidence is not the problem of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal and Security Affairs but General Wiranto demonstrating his really mature leadership to secure the problem. He said he will solve the problem peacefully soon claiming it is his responsibility.

This article is just a trying effort to show the society that what happened now is just a technical matter in buying the Modern Defense System abroad. The ending goal of this article is just to urge the national capability to develop this country in the field of science and technology. Just short political memory, the late  President Soeharto supported by among other Prof Dr BJ Habibie are among the Indonesian leaders who were brave and courageously  built our now PT DI (the Indonesian Airspace Industry) in Bandung.

The Possible weak of the Decision Making Process in the Buying of the Helicopter AB 101

This new Helicopter is bought from the Air Space Industry Augusta Westland the Combined Air space Industry of Italia and Britain held in Italia. When this helicopter is described totally finished and after roll road and successful in flying test this helicopter was given the Code Name of AB 101 and after the payment was fully  made by the Defense Ministry of Indonesia, the helicopter flew and tarrived its destination Indonesia and now it is parked in Wing I Halim Perdana Kusuma Air Force Base, East Jakarta.  

Sporadic news in the media concerning this new helicopter is indicating that the buying process of AB 101 could be described as normal, legal and official but lack of coordination as indicated  bellow:
The Defense Ministry likely to have been expressing its approval to buy the Helicopter proposed by at that time Marshal Agus  Supriatna, the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian National Air Force, because the existing VVIP transport plane has been old (25 years) and  no more comfortable for VVIP regional transportation.  
Everything has been definitely put in official letters likely about one year ago. One copy of those official document believed to have been sent to President Jokowi around one year ago.
Likely after receiving the rapport about this planning, President Jokowi had made his rejection to the proposal of the Indonesian National Air Force to buy the helicopter abroad, because Indonesia (the Indonesian Airspace Industry) could made also helicopter of the similar quality. President Jokowi rejection was also informed to Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Gatot Nurmantyo and passed it to the Ministry of Defense.

As addition, President Jokowi rejected to buy the helicopter from aboard, because there is Government policy that said all Indonesian Government Institution who wish to have a helicopter for its mission, the Institution concerns has to buy the helicopter produced by The Indonesian Airspace Industry (PT DI).

However though the rejection of President Jokowi had been given but apparently The Defense Ministry went on with the proposal of Marshal Agus Supriatna, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian National Air Force at that time to buy the helicopter from Agusta Westland based on various special technical reason owned by the helicopter produced by Agusta Westland. The Defense Ministry likely based on Special technical consideration submitted by the Indonesian National Air Force the decision to continue to buy the helicopter to Agusta Westland was believed will be accepted by President Jokowi and Commander in Chief of the Indonesia National Airforce, General Gatot Nurmantyo.

Unfortunately Defense Ministry and the Indonesian National Air Force likely  missed to rapport it to President Jokowi and Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Gatot Nurmantyo On the contrary The Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Gatot Nurmantyo who had passed President Jokowi policy that the President did not want to buy the helicopter from Italia to the Chief of Staff of the Indonesian National Air Force at that time Marshal Agus Supriatna, considering the policy of President Jokowi clearly understood.  

Incidentally along with the spread out of the information about this invisible helicopter AB 101 it is also apparently to be declared the implementation of the Defense Regulation No 28 of 2015 among other stated that all the Defense budget including the budget for the Indonesian National Armed Forces received from the Ministry of Finance are managed by the Defense Minister. It was stressed that Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces since then has no more right to run the defense budget. So far there is no information whether yes or not this extreme  decision of the Defense Ministry approved by President Jokowi.

Because of this regulation Defense Ministry could pay the helicopter AB 101 without Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces approved it before. This new System is may be utilized based on a new budget management system knowledge applied in the Defense Ministry of other countries. In some other countries likely the  job of the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces is only applied during the War while in Peaceful Situation the role of  Commander in Chief were acted by The Chairman of the Joint Chief of the Staff of the Services. It is likely the Defense Regulation No 28 of 2015 is considering the Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces is just like the Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff of the Services.

When executing officially visit for the inspection to Wing I of Halim Perdana Kusuma Air Force base, Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Gatot Nurmantyo realized that the Indonesian National Air Force apparently supported by Defense Ministry had gone on with the proposal of the Indonesian National Air Force to buy helicopter to Agusta Westland and the payment was done without his approval. As told before based on Defense Regulation No 28/2015 the Defense Ministry has the main  authority to run the Defense budget allocated for the Indonesian National Armed Forces since the year of 2015.

The Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces General Gatot Nurmantyo stated that the buying of helicopter AW 101 to Agusta Westland is cancelled and as the Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces he rejected the Defense  Ministry Regulation No 28 of 2015. The dispute upon the helicopter AW 101 was likely affected by the lack of information about the development process of the buying of helicopter to Agusta Westland and the implementation of Defense Regulation No 238/2015.

President Jokowi has not been likely well informed about the promulgation of the Defense Regulation No 28 of 2015 and the decision of the Defense Ministry to go on with buying of helicopter to Agusta Westland and even it has been now in Indonesia.

The Commander in Chief of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, General Gatot Nurmantyo definitely does not realize that to cancel the buying of the helicopter may be there is penalty that should be paid by the Defense Ministry or Indonesia could be reported to the International Court of Justice.

To get the clear and valid information about the process of the buying of the helicopter AB 101, Chief of Staff of the Indonesian National Air Force of the present time Marshal Hadi Tjahyono has been instructed to investigate the historical process of the plan and the buying of the helicopter AB 101 from the Air space Company of Agusta Westland, Italia. President Jokowi remind that all the Indonesian National Armed Forces Personnel who apparently involved in the dirty work (manipulation) in the buying of the helicopter AB 101 would be punished. This warning as likely  was just normal warning of Pres Jokowi to avoid the dirty game in the purchase of helicopter AW 101.

The Helicopter AW 101 has been now in Indonesia and to be parked in one of the Parking Place of Wing I Halim Perdana kusuma Air Force Base East Jakarta and after everything is clear certainly  it will be assigned in operational mission. The price of the helicopter of AB 101 type is USD 55 million or around Rp700 billion' there has been not yet comparison if the Government of Indonesia buying it to PT DI Bandung.

Some members of the House of Representatives urged to the Government urgently solve the unclear condition of the helicopter AW 101 and a number of Observer tend to suggest the Government to delete the Defense Regulation No 28/2015 on the Management of Defense budget.

This analysis are based on the information circulating recently in the media. This analysis is again intended to try to show to the society that the helicopter AB 101 is legal, official and in perfect condition.

Observing and Analizing

Observing and analyzing the background process of the buying of helicopter AB 101 (as far as published in the media) supporting  the idea of General Wiranto we tend to describe the problem of the helicopter AB 101 is a minor problem caused by a several lack of communication, coordination and discussion among the involving officials concern to handle this problem.

The present Chief of Staff of the Indonesian National Air Force Marshal Hadi Tjahyanto has to finish hi mission to investigate the background process of the buying of helicopter AB 101 urgently  and completely.

It is suggested he Government to reform his management system on the decision making process of the Cabinet level through the more intensive meeting and discussion on various agenda of the national development in line with the Cabinet Strategic Objectives.

The problem of the buying VVIP transport plane is purely technical matters but it could embark to a political problem that could decrease the Cabinet political trust/political aproval from the society and the House of Representatives.

Conclusion

The problem of the buying of the VVIP transportation plane is only minor and technical matter but in fact it need intensive communication and coordination in the framework of reforming the system of Decision Making Process on the problem of Cabinet level.

Politically the problem of the buying of helicopter AB 101 could be definitely concluded as zero, but the warning of any dirty budget game is likely needed a pertinent, accurate and real  action by the professional, credible and independent State Auditor such as The State Budget Auditing Body (BPK), or the Corruption Demolishing Commission (KPK) to clarify it. This conclusion is to end our observation to the surprising information happened within the last two weeks.

*) Written by Political and Security Observer. The writer is a researcher at Center of Risk Strategic Intelligence Assessment (CERSIA), Jakarta. Lives in Jakarta.