Rights groups against RI-U.S. military ties<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (AP): Six human rights groups are opposing resumed
\nmilitary ties between Indonesia and the United States, saying it
\nwould send signals that Washington is ready to overlook
\nIndonesia's alleged human rights abuses in East Timor.<\/p>\n
In a letter to members of the U.S. Congress and government
\nreleased Thursday, the groups called military ties between the
\ntwo countries \"indefensible\".<\/p>\n
The letter also warned that any positive effect Washington's
\nsuspension of military ties with Indonesia may have would be
\nsquandered.<\/p>\n
\"Any signal that the U.S. is beginning to warm up to the
\nIndonesian military is taken as a sign that the kind of violence
\nthat is going on against the East Timorese will be encouraged,\"
\nsaid Loren Ryter of the East Timor Action Network.<\/p>\n
The United States severed military ties with Indonesia in
\nSeptember following violence which erupted following a United
\nNations-sponsored ballot.<\/p>\n
Washington had been Indonesia's primary supplier of weapons
\nsystems for several decades, and the two countries had an active
\ntraining exchange program until the East Timor crisis last year.<\/p>\n
The United States is now reconsidering the suspension on
\ncondition that those responsible for last year's violence in East
\nTimor be punished.<\/p>\n
\"Given the Indonesian military makes no distinction between
\nnational defense and domestic policing, the U.S. must admit that
\nany training and aid provided to the military can just as easily
\nbe used against Indonesian citizens,\" read the statement released
\nby the groups.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rights-groups-against-ri-us-military-ties-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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