U.S. looking to improve military ties with RI<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (DPA): The Bush administration is consulting with
\nCongress about lifting restrictions on military ties with
\nIndonesia, a top Pentagon official confirmed Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Peter Rodman, assistant defence secretary for international
\nsecurity affairs, said that the move was part of a desire in
\nWashington to improve contacts with the new regime of President
\nMegawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
\"There's been a decision in this government to try to engage
\nwith the new government of Indonesia,\" Rodman said. \"It's a
\ngovernment on which to rest the hopes of a lot of us and a lot of
\nIndonesia's neighbors. So engaging with the military is a natural
\nthing for us to do.\"<\/p>\n
One obstacle to improving ties are limits imposed by Congress
\nin 1999 after the Indonesian army's crackdown on separatists in
\nEast Timor. Congress passed legislation banning military sales
\nand training until Jakarta provides a \"full accounting\" of human
\nrights abuses in East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"We're engaged in congressional consultations to see what
\nflexibility there might be, whether there's a consensus between
\nthe two branches of government about perhaps relaxing some of the
\nrestrictions,\" Rodman said.<\/p>\n
The U.S. and Indonesian militaries have continued to cooperate
\nin other areas, such as joint training for humanitarian relief.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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