JP/6/OTHER7

JP/6/OTHER7

Don't isolate Indonesia's military

News that Indonesian soldiers might have been involved in an
August ambush in Papua that killed two Americans and an
Indonesian and wounded 11 isn't surprising. Yet Jakarta's
acknowledgement that soldiers may have been involved in the
August abuses has brought new demands from human rights advocates
that foreign governments shun the Indonesia military.

The initial Indonesian response was a claim that anti-
government insurgents were responsible for the attack. But recent
government actions show that Jakarta is seriously trying to get
to the bottom of the crimes. For starters, local officials are
reported to be cooperating openly with the U.S. Federal Bureau of
Investigation, a refreshing improvement from a government that
had been dragging its feet in helping America with the war on
terror.

More to the point, it was an Indonesian police investigator
named I Made Mangku Pastika who first went public with the news
that members of the elite Kopassus army unit might have had a
role. An investigation by Mr. Pastika last year led to the arrest
of several other Kopassus members for assassinating a Papuan
rebel leader. Allowing a serious prober such as Mr. Pastika to
enter the case suggests that there is no conspiracy to cover up
official complicity.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has also designated Mr.
Pastika to head the investigation into last month's Bali bombings
-- a high-profile appointment.

But cutting off U.S. aid to or communication with the
Indonesian military is hardly an intelligent answer to the
problem of dark deeds by rogue military units. What is needed now
is not a weaker military but one that is better trained, better
disciplined and obedient to civil authorities. That can best be
furthered by contact with such a force in being, specifically the
U.S. military.

In the past successful programs have brought officers and
cadets to U.S. military academies for training. Increased contact
with the world's most powerful fighting force would inevitably
convince Indonesian soldiers that unquestioning deference to
civilian rule and respect for human rights in no way diminishes
the importance of a nation's military.

Indonesia's armed forces have been consistently ceding more
power to the civilian government since Soeharto stepped down in
1998. Earlier this year, President Megawati announced another
series of reforms, including an accelerated schedule for removing
the seats reserved for military officers in the national
parliament. This is progress.

It's also important to note that excesses by some notoriously
tough and independent units in far-flung outposts of a country
that stretches for 3,000 miles does not necessarily mean that the
central command in the capital condones random violence.

The most important reason not to isolate the Indonesian
military is that it would set back the world war against terror.
After Sept. 11, 2001, and especially following the October Bali
bombings, international leaders have asked Ms. Megawati to take
bold steps to crack down on radical Islamic groups operating in
Indonesia. There is no way jihadist organizations can be
controlled in the world's most populous Muslim nation without the
assistance of strong amed forces.

-- The Asian Wall Street Journal, Hong Kong