U.S. cops to train Indonesian police<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Washington will send a team of United States
\npolice officers in the next few days to train their Indonesian
\ncounterparts in handling protests, Antara said on Monday.<\/p>\n
Quoting Sunday's report of The New York Times, the news agency
\nsaid the dispatch was arranged in anticipation of the June 7
\ngeneral election, despite criticism from many human rights
\nactivists.<\/p>\n
The U.S. police will also train Indonesian police on how to
\nimprove relations with the media, political parties, and
\nopposition parties.<\/p>\n
A source in the White House said a team of U.S. justice and
\nforeign affairs ministers visiting Indonesia recently recommended
\nthe program, saying it might help reduce the level of violence
\nduring and after the polls as it would teach techniques to handle
\nprotests peacefully.<\/p>\n
The source said the Indonesian government has accepted the
\noffer, but did not provide details on the number of U.S. officers
\nto participate in the training program.<\/p>\n
The source also said that even if the training starts in May,
\nIndonesian police would still get enough knowledge to prevent
\nriots from turning violent.<\/p>\n
The U.S. team concluded that if the police could handle
\nprotesters in a peaceful way, they could prevent the military
\nfrom getting involved.<\/p>\n
Experience has shown that the involvement of the military in
\nquelling protests can lead to violence that claims lives, the
\nteam said.<\/p>\n
Human rights activist Mike Jendrzejczyk of the Asian Human
\nRights, said the training program might prevent further violence
\nin many demonstrations in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Mike noted that if police violence still occurs in the country
\nafter the U.S. training program, it could be a hot issue for
\ncriticism by the U.S. Congress and non-governmental
\norganizations.<\/p>\n
\"The United States will face criticism if Indonesian police
\ntrained by the U.S. officers are proven to commit more violence
\nagainst demonstrators, as well as other human rights violations,\"
\nMike said.<\/p>\n
The White House gave a guarantee that the program will involve
\nonly a select group of police officers in Jakarta, and said
\nIndonesian human rights activists will participate in arranging
\nthe curriculum for the training. (swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-cops-to-train-indonesian-police-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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