U.S. House okays military aid for RI<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (Agencies): American military aid to Indonesia was
\nsafeguarded when the Republican-controlled House of
\nRepresentatives foiled on Tuesday the 1997 foreign operations
\nappropriations bill which sees heavy cuts on most other items,
\nUPI reported.<\/p>\n
The call to slash the allocation of the International Military
\nEducation Training (IMET) funds to Indonesia came from Democrat
\nRepresentative Barney Frank. He is concerned about the
\ngovernment's human rights record in East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"Human rights cannot simply be disregarded,\" Frank said.<\/p>\n
Republican Representative Benjamin Gilman did not dispute
\nFrank's assertion but said \"it is my view that continuing the
\nIMET program will enhance the ability of the U.S. to influence
\nIndonesia's military.\"<\/p>\n
Washington froze the IMET program for Indonesia in 1992 under
\npressure from what was then a Democrat-controlled House. The
\ntermination came in response to ABRI's handling of a protest in
\nEast Timor which led to fatalities.<\/p>\n
The program finances the training of senior military officers
\nin the United States.<\/p>\n
UPI did not report the amount of IMET funds destined for
\nIndonesia, but the fund had reached US$2.5 million (Rp 5.8
\nbillion) a year before it was frozen in 1992.<\/p>\n
The 1997 foreign operations appropriations bill, which set
\nU.S. foreign aid and export financing spending at $11.9 billion,
\nwas approved by a 366 to 57 vote. It is now sent to the American
\nSenate.<\/p>\n
The House bill is $1 billion less than President Bill Clinton
\nasked for, and $458 million less than fiscal 1996 levels.<\/p>\n
\"This bill cuts foreign aid to less than 1 percent of the
\nentire federal budget,\" said Sonny Callahan, an Alabama
\nRepublican and chairman of an appropriations subcommittee on
\nforeign affairs.<\/p>\n
Among the provisions of the bill are a $175 million cut for
\nthe International Development Association, a $30 million cut for
\nthe Agency for International Development, and $4 million less for
\nthe Economic Support Fund. There are also broad cuts to a handful
\nof international social aid organizations. U.S.-based
\ninternational family planning efforts, for example, were
\nradically slashed.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/us-house-okays-military-aid-for-ri-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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