Analyst defends purchase of Leopard tanks to create balance of power

Jakarta, (Antaranews Bogor) - Analyst from the Indonesian Defense University Dr Rajab Ritonga defended the purchase of Leopard tanks by the defense ministry to create balance of power in the region.

"In principle, the presence of the Leopard tanks is needed as neighboring countries including Singapore and Malaysia already have such tanks," Dr Rajab said here on Tuesday.

Only Indonesia, the Philippines and Timor Lester (East Timor) have not use Main Battle Tank (MBT), he said , adding Australia and US marines in Darwin also use MBT.

Former President B.J. Habibie criticized the government for choosing Leopard, saying a maritime country like Indonesia needs smaller but more mobile tanks.

Habibie said Leopard tanks were designed to suit desert countries not maritime countries , adding a tank weighing 60 tons would damage bridges.

Dr Rajab, however, said," perhaps Habibie has not received full information about the tanks. Leopard is suitable not only in the desert but also in forests."

He said what is more important is Indonesia needs to consider balance in defense technology.

He cited Indonesian cavalry was inferior and no match to the cavalries of neighboring countries before the Indonesian military had Leopard tanks .

He said the presence of Leopard tanks is important such as in Kalimantan, where Indonesia shares a land border with Malaysia.

"Before, we have Leopard, we had only Scorpion tanks, which weighs only 15 tons as against the 60-ton Leopard," he said.

At least the presence of Leopard tanks will deter any ill will of any unfriendly countries against the sovereignty of Indonesia, he said.

He said the budget was originally enough only to purchase 40 units of the tanks.

However, former army chief of staff Gen. Pramono Edhi Wibowo succeeded in raising the number to 150 units through G to G (government to government) deal, he said.

"When Pramono Edhi Wibowo was the army chief of staff, the role of brokers was put to an end," he said.