Don't isolate Indonesia's military<\/p>\n
News that Indonesian soldiers might have been involved in an
\nAugust ambush in Papua that killed two Americans and Indonesian
\nand wounded 11 isn't surprising. Yet Jakarta's acknowledgement
\nthat soldiers may have been involved in the August abuses has
\nbrought new demands from human rights advocates that foreign
\ngovernments shun the Indonesia military.<\/p>\n
The initial Indonesian response was a claim that anti-
\ngovernment insurgent were responsible for the attack, which is
\ncertainly a plausible theory in the absence of more solid
\nevidence. But recent government actions show that Jakarta is
\nseriously trying to get to the bottom of the crimes. For
\nstarters, local officials are reported to be cooperating openly
\nwith the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, a refreshing
\nimprovement from a government that had been dragging its feet in
\nhelping America with the war on terror.<\/p>\n
More to the point, it was an Indonesian police investigator
\nnamed I Made Mangku Pastika who first went public with the news
\nthat members of the elite Kopassus army unit might have had a
\nrole. An investigation by Mr. Pastika last year led to the arrest
\nof several other Kopassus members for assassinating a Papuan
\nrebel leader.<\/p>\n
But cutting off U.S. aid to or communication with the
\nIndonesian military is hardly an intelligent answer to the
\nproblem of dark deeds by rogue military units. What is needed now
\nis not a weaker military but one that is better trained, better
\ndisciplined and obedient to civil authorities. That can best be
\nfurthered by contact with such a force in being, specifically the
\nU.S. military.<\/p>\n
In the past successful programs have brought officers and
\ncadets to U.S. military academies for training. Increased contact
\nwith the world's most powerful fighting force would inevitably
\nconvince Indonesian soldiers that unquestioning deference to
\ncivilian rule and respect for human rights in no way diminishes
\nthe importance of a nation's military.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's armed forces have been consistently ceding more
\npower to the civilian government since Soeharto stepped down in
\n1998. Earlier this year, President Megawati announced another
\nseries of reforms, including an accelerated schedule for removing
\nthe seats reserved for military officers in the national
\nparliament. This is progress.<\/p>\n
The most important reason not to isolate the Indonesian
\nmilitary is that it would set back the world war against terror.
\nAfter the attacks on New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001,
\nand especially following the October Bali bombings, international
\nleaders have asked Ms. Megawati to take bold steps to crack down
\non radical Islamic groups operating in Indonesia. There is no way
\njihadist organizations can be controlled in the world's most
\npopulous Muslim nation without the assistance of strong armed
\nforces.<\/p>\n
-- The Asian Wall Street Journal. Hong Kong<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dont-isolate-indonesias-military-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }