Clinton supports U.S. easing military ties with Indonesia<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Banda Aceh, Aceh<\/p>\n
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton favors easing restrictions on
\nsales of military equipment to tsunami-devastated Indonesia,
\nsaying America has a \"huge stake\" in improving relations with the
\nworld's most populous Muslim country and should do all it can to
\nhelp it rebuild.<\/p>\n
The United States disclosed last Thursday it would lift a ban
\non the sale of certain military equipment to Indonesia, drawing
\ncriticism from human rights groups who say the country hasn't
\ndone enough to curb alleged abuses by the military in insurgency-
\nwracked areas.<\/p>\n
Clinton on Monday said lifting the ban would help relations
\nwith Indonesia, which the United States considers an important
\nally in its war on terrorism.<\/p>\n
\"We have a huge stake in building a positive relationship\"
\nwith Indonesia, he said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. severed most military ties to Indonesia in 1999 when
\nIndonesian soldiers were blamed for widespread killings and
\ndestruction in East Timor, after residents there voted to break
\naway from Jakarta's rule in a U.N.-sponsored referendum.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the U.S. decided to renew training of
\nIndonesian military officers and to allow direct commercial sales
\nof some defense items and services. The decision allowed Jakarta
\nto buy spare parts for C-130 aircraft transporting supplies to
\ntsunami victims.<\/p>\n
Clinton, who was recently named the U.N. special envoy for
\ntsunami recovery, was in Banda Aceh to review efforts to rebuild
\ncoastal areas where 128,000 people were killed and another half
\nmillion left homeless by the Dec. 26 disaster.<\/p>\n
Many of the homeless said Monday they were still waiting for
\nhelp from the government and international aid agencies.<\/p>\n
\"Please help Aceh to rebuild roads, houses, buildings,\" said
\nDadang Dipraja, 40, a resident of Deah Geulumpang, a town on the
\noutskirts of provincial capital Banda Aceh, as he sat fishing in
\na river surrounded by destroyed buildings. \"But please don't give
\nmoney to the government, because it will be lost to corruption.\"<\/p>\n
However, Clinton praised government efforts to stop
\ncorruption, including the appointment of international accounting
\nfirms to ensure all donated aid is received. He urged survivors
\nto be patient.<\/p>\n
He also welcomed ongoing talks in Finland between separatist
\nAceh rebels and the Indonesian government, saying peace was
\ncrucial to reconstruction.<\/p>\n
Clinton is on a four-day trip to countries worst hit to ensure
\nthat aid is being distributed fairly and efficiently, and to try
\nkeeping the world's attention on tsunami recovery. He also
\nvisited the Maldives, India and Sri Lanka.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, an aftershock jolted Aceh, causing frightened
\nresidents to flee homes and other buildings. There were no
\nreports of damage or injuries.<\/p>\n
The quake measured 5.6 and was centered under the Indian
\nOcean, 150 kilometers southwest of Banda Aceh, the geophysics and
\nmeteorological agency said.<\/p>\n
Dozens of people fled from a five-story hotel and other
\nbuildings during the quake, which lasted about 10 seconds.<\/p>\n
Aceh has experienced countless earthquakes since a massive
\ntsunami-producing tremor off its coast on Dec. 26. Three months
\nlater, an earthquake caused extensive damage on Nias island,
\nleaving more than 900 dead.<\/p>",
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