IN mid-January, Indonesian Navy Chief of Staff Admiral Slamet Soebijanto cancelled the orders for two Sigma corvettes from the Netherlands. He also recommended to the House of Representatives (DPR) that the funds allocated be used instead to buy Russian corvettes. Admiral Soebijantos controversial decision caused quite a stir, given that the order was signed by no less than the Defense Minister himself.

Tempo reporters Budi Setyarso and Fanni Febi