Cohen tells Indonesia to shackle military or face sanctions
Cohen tells Indonesia to shackle military or face sanctions
JAKARTA (Agencies): United States Defense Secretary William Cohen arrived here Wednesday to discuss how to avert a humanitarian disaster in East Timor and Washington's stance on the crisis.
Cohen, on the second leg of a five country tour of the region, was welcomed by the secretary general of the defense ministry, Lt. Gen. Fachrul Razi at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport, AFP reported.
He is due to meet with Minister of Defense and Security Affairs and Commander of the Indonesian Military (TNI) Gen. Wiranto on Thursday, President B.J. Habibie, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, opposition leader Megawati Soekarnoputri and several human rights activists.
Before leaving Darwin in northern Australia earlier on Wednesday, Cohen said Indonesia's government must shackle its military and advance democracy or face the prospect of political isolation and economic sanctions.
"There must be civilian control over the military and the world is watching," Cohen was quoted by Reuters as saying.
"We are committed to helping the Indonesian people to achieve their own dream that they voted for, and that is democracy," he said in an interview on Australia's Channel Nine television.
"This is very important to Indonesia and they have to understand this," Cohen said, adding that failure to advance democratic reforms begun last year and to bring the military tightly under civilian control would have "serious consequences".
"I think to the extent that the government does not cooperate...then I think that Indonesia itself will have to face up to consequences which will certainly involve some isolation diplomatically and perhaps economic consequences as well."
Cohen also echoed warnings by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright that Jakarta must end "collusion" between its military and anti-independence militias in East Timor and disarm the militias.
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said the death toll probably ran into thousands, although the Indonesian army says about 90 died.
Washington has suspended all joint military exercises and exchanges and other support for Indonesia on Sept. 9 to protest against the killings, looting and burning in East Timor.