No strings attached to U.S. aid: Analysts

No strings attached to U.S. aid: Analysts

JAKARTA (JP): Are there any strings attached to the promised
military and financial aid from the United States? A number of
analysts believe there are not.

Kusnanto Anggoro of the Centre for Strategic and International
Studies says he does not see any link between the aid pledged by
the U.S. and Indonesia's commitment to support the global war
against terrorism.

"If any, it is only at the diplomatic level, but it is not the
real objective of the U.S.," Kusnanto told The Jakarta Post on
Friday.

He said the U.S. did not expect too much from Indonesia's
support as it had already secured support from many Arab
countries.

Besides, Kusnanto said, the United Nations' resolutions
already provided a strong and legitimate basis for the U.S. to
fight terrorism.

Dewi Fortuna Anwar, of the Indonesian Institute of Sciences
(LIPI), said that Indonesia's support for the global war against
terrorism was not the main reason why the U.S. heaped promises of
aid to Megawati.

Dewi cited three long-term considerations behind the promises.

First, Indonesia has a very important role to play in the
Southeast Asian region. The U.S. does not want to see a weak
Indonesia.

Second, the U.S. wants to help smoothen the transition process
toward democracy in Indonesia.

Third, to protect U.S. interests in Indonesia, as there are
many U.S. companies operating here.

President George W. Bush and President Megawati Soekarnoputri
issued a joint statement in Washington on Wednesday. Bush
promised Megawati to restore U.S. military aid and pledged
financial aid totaling US$657.4 million.

The statement also sought for a renewal of military ties
between the two countries, which had been disrupted since
September 1999, soon after the TNI was allegedly involved in
violence after East Timor's ballot for independence.

The U.S. imposed an embargo on arms and spare parts and froze
its international military training, cooperation on education and
foreign military funds.

Fellow analyst at LIPI, Riza Sihbudi, said he feared that the
U.S. attached strings to its promises.

"As long as the commitment is limited to support a global war
against terrorism it is OK. What I am worried about is that the
commitment includes a dissolution of what is perceived as hard-
line Islamic organizations by U.S. diplomats," he said.

"Megawati should reject the aid if it comes with the condition
that Indonesia should fulfill all U.S. demands," he said, adding
that Megawati became president, in part, due to support from
Muslim groups.

Riza said the U.S. needed support from Indonesia, the largest
Muslim country in the world, in its efforts to pursue Saudi-born
Osama bin Laden, a prime suspect of the attack against Washington
and New York on Sept. 11.

Dewi said the American policy looked like a carrot-and-stick
approach.

"I think such an approach is still used by the U.S. in its
dealings with Indonesia. But we should not think negatively about
the aid as it is not wise if support from Indonesia is used as an
exchange for aid," said the former adviser to president B.J.
Habibie.

If such an approach persists it would be counterproductive as
it could offend nationalist sentiments.

Had Megawati not pledged her support to fight international
terrorism, she said, she doubted that the generous promises would
be made so soon.

Human rights campaigner Munir said financial aid from the U.S.
was promised with the hope that Indonesia would control anti-
American groups in the country.

"This is a new cold war waged by the U.S. against the Middle
East," said the former coordinator for the Commission for Missing
Persons and Victims of Violence.

Some radical Islamic groups have threatened to attack the U.S.
Embassy in Jakarta and to search and expel U.S. citizens from
Indonesia as soon as the U.S. launch a military attack on any
country in the Middle East.

The House of Representatives will summon Minister of Foreign
Affairs Hassan Wirayuda next week to explain the background of
the promised aid, Chairman of Commission I on foreign affairs
Ibrahim Ambong said on Thursday.

Separately, the Indonesian Military (TNI) hailed the U.S.
decision to restore military aid to Indonesia.

"We are grateful that finally such an agreement has been
reached, which will benefit both countries," TNI spokesman Rear
Air Marshall Graito Usodo told reporters at TNI headquarters in
Cilangkap, East Jakarta on Friday.

Kusnanto, however, said he was pessimistic that military
relations could be normalized soon, as there were conditions that
required Indonesia to resolve its human rights issues first.

"Moreover, Bush needs approval from the Congress to restore
military relations with Indonesia," he said, adding that he
appreciated the U.S.'s commitment to educate civilians on defense
matters.

"It is important because it will help civilians control the
military. How can legislators oversee the military when they do
not understand defense matters." (02/09/tso/hbk)