Indonesian legislators query Clinton on aid use
JAKARTA (JP): Eighty-nine Indonesian legislators have written to United States President Bill Clinton demanding that he ensure that American aid is not used to finance activities which would interfere in the country's domestic affairs.
Six legislators -- Abu Hasan Sazili, Aminullah Ibrahim, Samsul Bahri, Yasril Baharudin and Zamharir A.R. of the Golkar faction and Khofifah Indar Parawansa of the United Development Party faction -- delivered two letters, one addressed to Clinton and the other to Congress, to U.S. Ambassador J. Stapleton Roy at his residence in Central Jakarta Saturday.
The two letters were signed by 89 members of the 500-member House of Representatives. However none of the 75 members of the Armed Forces faction signed either letter.
Abu told The Jakarta Post that the legislators expressed their appreciation for the American aid given to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to strengthen human rights, the environment and democratization.
But, Abu said, the legislators were concerned over American news reports that suggested the aid also benefited those whose aims were not in the national interest.
"We asked that in the future the aid be continued and increased but with tighter supervision to ensure that it is for the welfare of the people," Abu said.
The two identical letters cited a May 21 report in the New York Times and International Herald Tribune which said that there are indications that U.S. aid could be used by certain groups to conduct activities which could disrupt stability.
The letter expressed concern that despite knowing that this aid was being "misused", the U.S. government did nothing about it.
"However the U.S. government has so far apparently disregarded this reality, and even continued to send the aid which reached US$26 million," the letter said.
The letter closed with a stern warning that inappropriate action would only worsen Indonesia's economy and cause the people further despair.
In recent weeks students have protested regularly outside the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta and Consulate-General in Surabaya, East Java, complaining what they believe to be Washington's meddling in Indonesia's domestic affairs.
According to Abu, Ambassador Roy maintained that the aid was merely used to help groups concerned with issues such as the environment, human rights and improvement of the democratic processes, not to interfere in domestic politics.
U.S. Assistant State Secretary for East Asia and the Pacific Stanley Roth earlier this month denied that Washington had had a hand in ousting Soeharto after widespread protests.
"It is absolutely untrue. We have consistently stated that the political situation in Indonesia is up to the people of Indonesia to decide," Roth said. (byg)