Indonesia to buy spare parts for Hercules C130s from Jordanian firm
Jordan-Indonesia, Economics, 3/29/2001

Indonesian Defense Minister Mahfud MD said Tuesday the government is negotiating with a Jordanian firm for the purchase of spare parts for its Hercules C130s, reports Indonesian news agency (ANTARA).

Mahfud told newsmen after a meeting with President Abdurrahman Wahid that he has asked a private Indonesian firm to draw up a price list of needed spare parts to which the government would adjust according to its financial capability. The government will later submit the price list of spare parts to the Jordanian company, he said.

He said he did not know exactly how much state budget will be allocated for the project and thus, he still has to discuss it with Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Rizal Ramli.

Antara explains that Indonesia has difficulties finding spare parts for its Hercules airplanes because of a US embargo.

The minister had also explained previously that the army was late in handling communal clashes in the country partly because of poor means of transportation. He said only two out of 26 Hercules airplanes could be operated, implying that they had to take turns carrying army personnel and airlifting food and medical supplies.

The US severed its military ties with Indonesia in 1999 to protest the pro-integration militias' campaign of terror and destruction in East Timor, which seceded from Indonesia following a UN-administered ballot.

But the US relaxed the ban late last year to allow the Indonesian Air Force and Navy -- which were not blamed for human rights abuses -- to purchase spare parts for non-aggressive equipment, such as transport aircraft and cargo ships.

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