TNI not expecting U.S. to lift arms embargo<\/p>\n
Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military (TNI) does not expect security talks
\nbetween Indonesian and the United States governments this week to
\nend with the lifting of a military embargo imposed by the U.S.
\nCongress, an official said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, director general of defense strategy at
\nthe Ministry of Defense, said that a vast range of topics,
\nexcluding that on the military embargo, would be discussed
\nbetween senior officials of the two governments during the
\nmeeting, saying it was likely that the two sides would exchange
\nviews on security matters at both international and regional
\nlevels.<\/p>\n
\"Of course we are seeking an opportunity to discuss the
\nmilitary embargo, but we must understand that such a policy was
\ninitiated by the U.S. Congress, not the executive branch,\"
\nSudrajat said.<\/p>\n
Sudrajat will lead the Indonesian delegation during the talks,
\nscheduled to take place here on Wednesday and Thursday at
\nBorobudur Hotel. The U.S. delegation will be led by Peter Brooke,
\nthe deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific
\naffairs.<\/p>\n
The meeting, which is a follow up to a summit between
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri and President George W. Bush in
\nWashington DC days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the
\nU.S., is aimed at \"establishing regular dialog between the
\ncivilian-led ministries on security issues facing both nations in
\nthe region\".<\/p>\n
\"We will discuss many things concerning security and how to
\ncope with them. One of the possible topics is terrorism, in which
\nwe will explain to them why we were unable to make any arrests or
\ntake stern measures against those allegedly involved in terrorist
\nactivities. We are not the Philippines, Malaysia or Singapore.<\/p>\n
\"What makes us different from these neighboring countries is
\nour legal system, which does not enforce the Internal Security
\nAct (ISA),\" Sudrajat told The Jakarta Post at his office.<\/p>\n
During their meeting last September, Bush and Megawati issued
\na joint statement that included Bush's promise to restore U.S.
\nmilitary aid and pledge to provide financial aid totaling
\nUS$657.4 million.<\/p>\n
The joint statement also sought the renewal of military ties
\nbetween the two countries, which were disrupted after widespread
\nviolence in East Timor following an independence vote in
\nSeptember 1999. TNI has been implicated in the atrocities.<\/p>\n
The U.S. imposed an embargo on arms and military spare parts
\nand froze its international military training, cooperation on
\neducation and foreign military funds.<\/p>\n
Military ties between the two countries have been gradually
\nrestored since 2000, but the U.S. keeps the embargo on combat
\nequipment intact.<\/p>\n
TNI has expressed hopes that the upcoming talks will lead to
\nthe resumption of full military ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
Sudrajat brush aside the expectation, saying that the U.S.
\nCongress would only consider the lifting of the embargo if it
\nfeels satisfied with the ongoing legal process against military
\nofficers and some East Timorese pro-Jakarta figures accused of
\ncommitting gross human rights violations in the former Portuguese
\ncolony.<\/p>\n
\"At worst, we should stop our dependence on the U.S. in
\nmilitary equipment supply and look for other countries should the
\nhuman rights tribunal fail to impress the U.S. Congress,\"
\nSudrajat said.<\/p>\n
\"But once again, do we have enough funds to realize this?\"<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tni-not-expecting-us-to-lift-arms-embargo-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }