U.S. showers Indonesia with promises<\/p>\n
By Fabiola Desy Unidjaja<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, D.C. (JP): President Megawati Soekarnoputri has
\nreaped instant rewards from U.S. President George W. Bush for her
\ncommitment to join the global war against terrorism.<\/p>\n
During their meeting here on Wednesday morning, Bush promised
\nthe visiting President a restoration of military aid and a total
\nof US$657.4 million in financial aid.<\/p>\n
After securing an assurance from Megawati about Indonesia's
\nattitude with regard to human rights, President Bush pledged that
\nthe United States would lift its embargo on commercial sales of
\nnon-lethal defense equipment to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"President Bush recognized the important role of the
\nIndonesian Military (TNI) as a national institution and both
\nleaders observed the importance of military reform in Indonesia's
\ndemocratic transition," said a joint statement issued after the
\nmeeting.<\/p>\n
The U.S. severed military ties with the TNI following mayhem
\nin East Timor in September, 1999.<\/p>\n
Speaking at a dinner hosted by the United States-Indonesia
\nSociety on Wednesday, Megawati said the resumption of military
\nties would strengthen democracy in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"As in other democratic countries, the minimal role vested in
\nIndonesia's military establishment is that of protecting the
\ncountry's territorial integrity and political sovereignty. These
\ntwo things are essential in a democracy.<\/p>\n
"A democracy cannot exist if its territorial boundaries are
\nchanged or twisted at every turn," she said.<\/p>\n
Megawati is the second foreign leader after French President
\nJacques Chirac to have met the U.S. president since the
\ndevastating Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington
\nthat left an estimated 6,000 dead.<\/p>\n
Megawati assured Bush that Indonesia, the world's largest
\nMuslim-populated country, opposed the terrorist attacks.<\/p>\n
"Indonesia has always been against violence," Megawati said.
\n"Anything that relates to violence, including acts of terrorism,
\nwe are definitely against."<\/p>\n
According to the joint statement, Bush promised to help
\nIndonesia to increase civilian participation in defense and
\nsecurity issues by allocating $400,000 to educate Indonesian
\ncivilians on defense matters.<\/p>\n
He also promised to lend $10 million for the training of
\nIndonesian police in an effort to strengthen Indonesia's law
\nenforcement capability.<\/p>\n
Bush also pledged to work with Congress to secure at least
\n$130 million to help finance Indonesia's legal and judicial
\nreform in fiscal year 2002.<\/p>\n
On top of that, Bush promised an additional $10 million to
\nassist refugees in Maluku, $5 million to rebuild destroyed
\nschools and other infrastructure in Aceh, and $2 million to
\nassist East Timorese who have chosen to stay in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In addition, three U.S. trade finance agencies -- the Export
\nImport Bank (Exim), the Overseas Private Investment Corporation
\n(OPIC), and U.S. Trade and Development Agency (TDA) -- would
\nprovide a total of $400 million to promote trade and investment,
\nespecially in the oil and gas sector.<\/p>\n
Bush also agreed to grant duty-free status worth $100 million
\nto 11 Indonesian products under the Generalized System of
\nPreferences (GSP).<\/p>\n
According to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, who
\nmet Megawati here on Wednesday, the 11 products exempted from
\nduties are: Turpentine gum, tuna and skipjack, prepared or
\npreserved snails, copper ores and concentrates, sorbitol, four
\ntypes of plywood sheeting, rattan or palm leaf articles, and
\ncontact lenses.<\/p>\n
Zoellick said the purpose of the facilities was to "support
\nPresident Megawati as leader of the world's largest Muslim
\ndemocracy and to help encourage growth prospects for the
\nIndonesian economy."<\/p>\n
Indonesia still aims to gain more from the U.S., including
\ninterest-free loans and the rescheduling of some of its sovereign
\ndebt, in exchange for its support for the U.S. effort of building
\na broad international coalition to fight against terrorism.<\/p>\n
"We have asked the U.S. to show concern over our difficulties
\nin repaying foreign loans, especially due to the looming global
\nrecession following the deadly attack last week," Coordinating
\nMinister for the Economy Dorojatun Kuntjoro-Jakti told reporters
\nhere on Wednesday evening (Thursday morning Jakarta time).<\/p>\n
He added that the U.S. government promised to fulfill the
\nrequest, provided that Indonesia showed its determination to
\neliminate corruption.<\/p>\n
Megawati, accompanied by a number of Cabinet ministers, held a
\nclosed-door meeting with members of the U.S. Congress on Capitol
\nHill on Thursday morning (late Thursday night Jakarta time).<\/p>\n
Megawati had a one-hour meeting with Patrick Kennedy, a
\nCongressman vocal on human rights issues, Valium Mavega, who is
\ncritical on the Irian Jaya issue, and Porter Goss and Hendry
\nHyde, the officials in charge of receiving foreign guests on
\nCapitol Hill.<\/p>\n
After the meeting, Megawati had lunch at the same venue with
\nother members of the U.S. House of Representatives known to be
\nsympathetic to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
She is scheduled to hold meetings with the International
\nMonetary Fund (IMF) and with the World Bank later on Thursday.<\/p>\n
She will leave for Houston on Friday to address an energy
\nconference, and then travel on to New York to attend several
\nmeetings in the United Nations.<\/p>\n
Summary of U.S. pledges to RI
\n * $400m to promote trade and investment in oil and gas sector.
\n * $130m to finance legal and judicial reforms.
\n * $100m of GSP facilities to expand bilateral trade.
\n * $10m to assist refugees in Maluku.
\n * $10m to train police.
\n * $5m to rebuild destroyed schools and infrastructure in Aceh.
\n * $2m to assist East Timorese who have chosen to stay in
\nIndonesia.
\n * $400,000 to educate civilians on defense matters.<\/p>",
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