The implementation of a new air freight security management system for both domestic and international cargo was a conspiracy between the government and the private sector, an activist said on Sunday.
Uchok Sky Khadafi, the Indonesian Forum for Budget Transparency’s (Fitra) coordinator for investigation and advocacy, said that the conspiracy could be seen from tariff that had been set by the private sector.
“The government is ‘selling’ a security policy to the private sector, which is the sole benefactor. Increasing security is the task of the government and it [the new air freight management system] should have been free of charge such as in Thailand,” Uchok said.
He predicted that regulated agents were going to charge between Rp 440 (4.8 US cents) and Rp 1,150 per kilogram in the near future.
“The country would suffer financial losses in the region of Rp 368 billion [$40.8 million] per year if the tariff was Rp 1,150,” he said.
He said that the government should invest in X-ray machines to inspect cargo, using the state budget instead of asking the private sector to provide it.
In addition, he said that such a management system was not in line with the 2009 Aviation Law. Thus, the government needed to amend the law before implementing the system.
Transportation Ministry spokesman Bambang Ervan said that the new cargo security management was already in line with the aviation law to ensure and improve aviation security.
“The law’s Article 217 on aviation security stipulates an obligation to check cargo. This system has a fundamental base,” Bambang told The Jakarta Post over the phone.
He also said that the system was in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s Annex 17 titled “Security: Safeguarding International Civil Aviation Acts of Unlawful Interference”. For state signatories to this, the primary objective is the safety of passengers, ground personnel and crew as well as protecting the general public against any acts of unlawful interference.
“Contracted states will apply standards required and recommended practices that are contained in Annex 17 to all civil aviation operations,” he said.
He also said that a tariff as high as Rp 1,150 was not going to be implemented for international cargo.
“The small team has recently been able to formulate the structure of new tariff that will be implemented immediately and the tariff fits the facilities given by the agents,” he said.
The team includes officials from the transportation, trade and finance ministries, the Indonesian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Kadin), business associations and regulated agents.
The current agents are PT Angkasa Pura II, Birotika Semesta, Pajajaran Global Service, PT Ghita Avia Trans, PT Duta Angkasa Prima Kargo and PT Fajar Anugerah Semesta.
Pandu Siwi Sentosa and TNT are going to join the current six regulated agents as soon as they are able to provide X-ray machines, Bambang said.
The cargo-security system has been implemented for domestic destinations since Sept. 3, with charges of between Rp 250 to Rp 350 per kilogram.
For international destinations, the implementation started on Oct. 16 with the old tariff, Rp 61, but a month later it rose to Rp 450 to Rp 600 per kilogram. (nfo)
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