Kopassus chief to visit Australia

JAKARTA: The commander of the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus), Maj. Gen. Sriyanto, is scheduled to visit Australia in September as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with its armed forces.

Army chief Gen. Ryamizard Ryacudu said on Wednesday that military cooperation with other countries, including Australia, was important in fighting terrorism.

Australian Army chief Gen. Peter Cosgrove controversially announced earlier that it wanted to resume military cooperation with Kopassus as part of the antiterror campaign.

Australia cut cooperation with Kopassus in 1999 after pro- Jakarta East Timorese militias went on bloody rampage, laying waste to almost 90 percent of the infrastructure in the former Portuguese colony.

The Indonesian military (TNI), particularly Kopassus, was accused of backing the armed groups.

Sriyanto, as quoted by Antara Wednesday, said Australia wanted cooperation with Kopassus restored, including in joint military exercises.