U.S., RI Navies conduct joint antiterror training<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Laki Island\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesian marines and U.S. Navy seals parachuted into the sea
\noff Jakarta on Tuesday in a joint anti-terror exercise, the
\nlatest sign of increased cooperation between the two militaries
\ndespite a ban on full contacts due to human rights concerns.<\/p>\n
The exercises, involving seven U.S. servicemen and more than
\n40 Indonesians, are designed to strengthen cooperation in dealing
\nwith \"threats in our waters, including piracy and terrorism,\"
\nsaid Lt. Col. Edi Fernandi, a spokesman for Indonesia's western
\nfleet.<\/p>\n
Washington imposed a full ban on military ties with Indonesia
\nin 1999, after the country's troops and their militia proxies
\ndevastated its former province of East Timor following a UN-
\norganized independence referendum.<\/p>\n
The U.S. administration is keen to resume ties with the
\nmilitary in Indonesia, which is the world's most populous Muslim
\nnation and a key country in the war on terror. Islamic hardliners
\nwith links to al-Qaida have launched three bloody attacks on
\nwestern targets in Indonesia since 2002.<\/p>\n
The country's vast waterways are of particular concern,
\nespecially the Malacca Strait, which separates Indonesia,
\nMalaysia and Singapore. The U.S. has warned a terrorist attack in
\nthe strategic waterway could cripple world trade.<\/p>\n
Tuesday's exercises came under an exchange program that was
\nreinstated last year, U.S. embassy spokesman Max Kwak said last
\nweek when the program began with classroom sessions. The drills,
\nwhich do not involve any firing of weapons, are designed to boost
\nanti-terror cooperation, he said.<\/p>\n
Apart from Tuesday's parachute drop on the nearby island of
\nLaki, those taking part in the drills would also practice sea
\nsurvival, navigation and ship boarding in the case of a
\nhijacking.<\/p>\n
The exercises, which are taking part close to a chain of more
\nthan 100 mostly uninhabited islands a short boat ride north of
\nthe Indonesian capital, are scheduled to continue through May 13.<\/p>\n
Moves to restore full military ties got a boost after the Dec.
\n26 tsunami devastated much of Indonesia's Aceh province.
\nWashington dispatched a Navy carrier group to the region, which
\ncooperated closely with Indonesia's military in distributing aid
\nand treating survivors.<\/p>\n
However, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick told
\nreporters in Jakarta Saturday that full ties would not be
\nrestored until Jakarta brought the killers of two American
\nschoolteachers in Papua three years ago to justice.<\/p>\n
In February, Washington restored a training program for
\nIndonesian officers, a move generally viewed as a first step in
\nlifting the ban.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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