NZ wants military ties with RI restored, says Elder<\/p>\n
Claire Harvey, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Normalization of military ties and mutual efforts to fight
\npeople-smuggling look set to highlight the visit of New Zealand
\nPrime Minister Helen Clark here next week.<\/p>\n
New Zealand Ambassador Chris Elder said on Friday that Clark
\nwould also urge President Megawati Soekarnoputri to attend East
\nTimor's upcoming independence celebrations, despite the fierce
\nopposition of legislators.<\/p>\n
\"It would be a very positive thing if President Megawati were
\nto travel to East Timor for the celebrations,\" Elder told The
\nJakarta Post. \"It's a matter for her decision absolutely but it
\nwould signal a reconciliation which I think would be very
\nwelcome.\"<\/p>\n
Friendlier relations between New Zealand and Indonesia were
\nblossoming as Jakarta embraced democracy and brought alleged
\nperpetrators of human rights abuse to justice, Elder said.<\/p>\n
Security links were cut in 1999 when pro-Jakarta militias went
\non a killing spree across East Timor after a UN-administered
\nreferendum resulted in an overwhelming support for independence.<\/p>\n
\"Our position (on military ties) is pretty well known in
\nIndonesia. Ties were suspended after the violence in East Timor
\nin the wake of the referendum and we are looking to see some
\nevidence that the people who were responsible are brought to
\njustice,\" Elder said.<\/p>\n
Elder said New Zealand welcomed as \"positive steps\" the
\ncurrent human rights trials of Indonesian Military (TNI) and
\npolice officers allegedly involved in the East Timor mayhem, and
\nMegawati's meeting with East Timor president-elect Xanana Gusmao
\nin Jakarta on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"East Timor was an irritant in our relationship but also the
\nmoves towards greater democratization in Indonesia generally are
\nmaking the relationship easier across the board,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I think countries like New Zealand -- which have been
\nprepared to be critical where they judged it necessary -- also
\nhave a responsibility to be supportive and commendatory when they
\nsee things in their judgment improving,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"You can't just keep criticizing without offering praise where
\nit is due.\"<\/p>\n
Refugees and trade relations will also top the agenda when
\nClark meets Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz on Monday. The
\nvisiting prime minister will lay a wreath at the Kalibata Heroes
\nCemetery, before calling on People's Consultative Assembly
\nSpeaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar
\nTandjung, who is presently on trial for graft.<\/p>\n
New Zealand has already agreed to take more refugees from
\nIndonesia to help ease the flow of boat people who set out in
\nleaky boats bound for Australia each year.<\/p>\n
Up to 200 refugees will from June be admitted to New Zealand
\nfrom Indonesia. At present, most of New Zealand's annual refugee
\nintake of 750 come from more distant areas such as the Balkans
\nand the Indian subcontinent.<\/p>\n
\"It's a recognition of the fact that Indonesia also has a
\nrefugee problem; Indonesia didn't ask these people to come here
\nand it's not fair to tell Indonesia that they have got to sort
\nthe problem out. We have to try and help.\"<\/p>\n
Clark will also witness the signing of an agreement between
\nNew Zealand and the UN on an aid program to assist primary school
\neducation, part of the NZ$40 million which Wellington will spend
\non Indonesian aid over the next five years.<\/p>\n
Tensions between the two countries reached a high point in
\nJuly 2000 when New Zealand peacekeeper Leonard Manning was
\nmurdered by pro-Jakarta militiamen while on patrol near the West
\nTimor border.<\/p>\n
Clark last year expressed her disappointment with the lenience
\nof the six-year sentence handed down to one of Manning's killers.
\nAnother two suspected killers were acquitted earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\"We were pretty satisfied with the way those trials were
\nconducted,\" Elder said. \"We didn't think the sentence was strong
\nenough and we are pleased the prosecution are appealing, and we
\nare also pleased the prosecution is appealing against the
\nacquittal of the other two men.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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