JP\/6\/OTHER7<\/p>\n
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 an
\nIndonesian and wounded 11 isn't surprising. Yet Jakarta's
\nacknowledgement that soldiers may have been involved in the
\nAugust abuses has brought new demands from human rights advocates
\nthat foreign governments shun the Indonesia military.<\/p>\n
The initial Indonesian response was a claim that anti-
\ngovernment insurgents were responsible for the attack. But recent
\ngovernment actions show that Jakarta is seriously trying to get
\nto the bottom of the crimes. For starters, local officials are
\nreported to be cooperating openly with the U.S. Federal Bureau of
\nInvestigation, a refreshing improvement from a government that
\nhad been dragging its feet in helping America with the war on
\nterror.<\/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. Allowing a serious prober such as Mr. Pastika to
\nenter the case suggests that there is no conspiracy to cover up
\nofficial complicity.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has also designated Mr.
\nPastika to head the investigation into last month's Bali bombings
\n-- a high-profile appointment.<\/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
It's also important to note that excesses by some notoriously
\ntough and independent units in far-flung outposts of a country
\nthat stretches for 3,000 miles does not necessarily mean that the
\ncentral command in the capital condones random violence.<\/p>\n
The most important reason not to isolate the Indonesian
\nmilitary is that it would set back the world war against terror.
\nAfter Sept. 11, 2001, and especially following the October Bali
\nbombings, international leaders have asked Ms. Megawati to take
\nbold steps to crack down on radical Islamic groups operating in
\nIndonesia. There is no way jihadist organizations can be
\ncontrolled in the world's most populous Muslim nation without the
\nassistance of strong amed forces.<\/p>\n
-- The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp6other7-1447899208", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }