Indonesian legislators query Clinton on aid use
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)