Military ties with U.S. vital to refine TNI

Military ties with U.S. vital to refine TNI

JAKARTA (JP): Military officials and observers welcomed on
Tuesday the United States' intention to resume its military ties
with Indonesia under strict conditions of improved performance
within the Indonesian Military (TNI) on human rights and
democracy issues.

Human rights activist Todung Mulya Lubis, however, was quick
to warn of possible misuse of the military assistance given by
the U.S. since, in many cases, both the TNI and the National
Police tended to take repressive measures in tackling regional
conflict.

"It doesn't mean that we don't want the TNI to become
powerful, but it should meet the strict requirements and be
prepared to concede to sanctions if it fails to fulfill them," he
told The Jakarta Post.

He suggested that, ahead the renewal of military ties, the TNI
hold human rights training for soldiers to promote humanitarian
law and the implications of military operations on rights issues.

"The government and TNI have to show a strong commitment by
taking rights abuses seriously and bringing perpetrators of human
rights violations to trial," he said.

He added that the new cooperation should enable the U.S. to
directly monitor the TNI's performance.

Todung expected strong reactions against the plan,
particularly from nationalist groups who fear that the
relationship will allow the superpower to dictate to Indonesia.

"But for me, any measure used to defend truth is the ultimate
form of nationalism. This kind of cooperation will resume for our
nation's sake, not others'. So it will certainly not harm our
nationalism," he remarked.

Separately, TNI spokesman Rear Air Marshall Graito Usodo said
that the TNI responded positively to the possibility of renewed
military ties between the U.S. and Indonesia.

"Cooperation in the military field between two countries
always gives benefits to each party and we are pleased to hear
that," Graito told the Post.

He said the TNI would not object to the conditions demanded by
the U.S. government as "the TNI is currently making human rights
education among its soldiers a top priority".

"We are seriously handling human rights violations, including
those that occurred in East Timor in 1999," he said.

Two generals have been declared suspects in relation to the
violence which erupted after people in the territory voted
against wide-ranging autonomy offered by Indonesia. So far,
however, none of the officers have been sent to court.

When asked if the U.S. government could use the cooperation as
a pretext to force a human rights tribunal for the generals,
Graito said: "It is the legal institutions which are responsible
for the trial, not the TNI."

Ikrar Nusa Bakti from the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
(LIPI) said that the cooperation, especially in education and
joint exercises, would further broaden TNI personnel's minds and
lead them toward greater professionalism.

He suspected that the TNI remains unable to break with the
past -- when it was given access to social, economic and
political realms -- in spite of the reform movement. Ikrar said
the old dual function concept had become institutionalized.

"Under any new cooperation, like it or not, the U.S. will help
the TNI improve professionalism as happens in developed states,
where the military accepts civilian supremacy," he said.
(bby/tso)