RI allowed to buy U.S. non-lethal items<\/p>\n
Agencies, Washington<\/p>\n
The United States will resume sales of nonlethal military
\nequipment to Indonesia, the State Department said on Thursday, as
\nthe leader of the Southeast Asian nation wrapped up a U.S. visit.<\/p>\n
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said, however, full
\nnormalization of bilateral military ties with Indonesia, a nation
\nwith the world's largest numbers of Muslims, required the
\npunishment of soldiers implicated in past human rights abuses.<\/p>\n
In his meeting on Wednesday with U.S. President George Walker
\nBush, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono had called
\nfor the restoration of military ties, and Bush responded
\nencouragingly.<\/p>\n
"We decided to renew government-to-government transfers of
\nnonlethal defense articles and services to the government of
\nIndonesia," Boucher was quoted by Reuters. He said any purchases
\nwould be funded by the Indonesians.<\/p>\n
"We think that increased U.S. sales in these matters that are
\nspecifically targeted can enhance democratic military reform, can
\nhelp us both achieve key security objectives, such as
\nhumanitarian relief, counterterrorism and maritime security," he
\ntold a news conference.<\/p>\n
Boucher reiterated that full military ties required
\nprosecution of soldiers implicated in "gross violations of human
\nrights" and accountability for abuses committed in East Timor and
\nother places in the vast archipelago.<\/p>\n
He said Washington also required continued counterterrorism
\ncooperation and transparency in military financing.<\/p>\n
The decision allows government sales of excess military items
\nor equipment that can be sold as a package with training and
\nmaintenance, Boucher said.<\/p>\n
Washington had already revived the small International
\nMilitary and Education and Training program with Indonesia that
\nwas frozen in the early 1990s because of human rights abuses in
\nEast Timor. Indonesia was also allowed to buy spare parts
\ncommercially for transport planes for rescue work after last
\nDecember's tsunami.<\/p>\n
Human rights groups had called on Bush to refrain from
\nrestoring U.S. military cooperation with Indonesia until justice
\nwas served for violence in East Timor in 1999 and prosecution of
\nthe killers of two Americans in Papua in 2002.<\/p>\n
John Miller, a spokesman for the East Timor and Indonesia
\nAction Network, said the distinction between nonlethal and lethal
\ndefense equipment was hard to draw. He called for continued
\npressure on the Indonesian military to reform.<\/p>\n
"The new (Indonesian) president has made a lot of promises and
\nreinforced some with this trip, but what's very important is that
\nthe administration, Congress and civil society here and in
\nIndonesia hold them to those promises," he said.<\/p>\n
President Susilo was scheduled to meet Microsoft founder Bill
\nGates in Seattle later on Friday before leaving for Vietnam.<\/p>\n
Susilo will be received by Vietnam President Tran Duc Luong on
\nMonday, after which the two are expected to witness the signing
\nof memorandums of understanding on cooperation in education and
\ncooperation in preventing and combating crimes.<\/p>\n
During his trip to Vietnam, Susilo will also visit Ho Chi Minh
\nMausoleum and receive Vietnam foreign minister Nguyen Dy Nien and
\nVietnam education minister Tran Thi Trung Chien, who also chairs
\nthe Vietnam-Indonesia Association.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Susilo will address a business forum and hold
\nseparate meetings with the president of the Vietnam National
\nCouncil, Nguyen Van An, Vietnam Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and
\nthe secretary-general of the Vietnam Communist Party Nong Duc
\nManh, before leaving for Japan.<\/p>\n
Susilo will end his overseas trip on Friday.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-allowed-to-buy-us-non-lethal-items-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }