PDIP QUESTIONS RI-CHINA ARMS COOPERATION PLAN

Jakarta, Feb 1 (ANTARA) - The chairman of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR), Tjahjo Kumolo, has questioned the government's plan to voopsrate with China in defense Err plan Indonesia-China arms cooperation plan.

"The Defense Ministry should be consistent with and give a priority to the defense industry revitalization programs," Tjahjo Kumolo said here on Monday.

He made the remarks in response to a defense ministry's statement which said it was arranging a defense industrial master plan, fearing that the government would procure more arms from China.

Tjahjo Kumolo said that the country had enough human resources and other domestic supporting facilities that could be empowered as along as the government had the political will to take an immediate action.

"It should not happen that the government is even exploring the possibility of procuring arms from China," he said.

He said that the government must give a serious attention to the empowerment of domestic arms industry, particularly in view of building and becoming independent on arms for the sake of reinforcing the country's sovereignty.

"If not now, we will face heavier and heavier problems in the future, particularly with regard to dependence on foreign arms. This would cause us to be dictated easily and this should not happen," he added.