NZ wants military ties with RI restored, says Elder

NZ wants military ties with RI restored, says Elder

Claire Harvey, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Normalization of military ties and mutual efforts to fight
people-smuggling look set to highlight the visit of New Zealand
Prime Minister Helen Clark here next week.

New Zealand Ambassador Chris Elder said on Friday that Clark
would also urge President Megawati Soekarnoputri to attend East
Timor's upcoming independence celebrations, despite the fierce
opposition of legislators.

"It would be a very positive thing if President Megawati were
to travel to East Timor for the celebrations," Elder told The
Jakarta Post. "It's a matter for her decision absolutely but it
would signal a reconciliation which I think would be very
welcome."

Friendlier relations between New Zealand and Indonesia were
blossoming as Jakarta embraced democracy and brought alleged
perpetrators of human rights abuse to justice, Elder said.

Security links were cut in 1999 when pro-Jakarta militias went
on a killing spree across East Timor after a UN-administered
referendum resulted in an overwhelming support for independence.

"Our position (on military ties) is pretty well known in
Indonesia. Ties were suspended after the violence in East Timor
in the wake of the referendum and we are looking to see some
evidence that the people who were responsible are brought to
justice," Elder said.

Elder said New Zealand welcomed as "positive steps" the
current human rights trials of Indonesian Military (TNI) and
police officers allegedly involved in the East Timor mayhem, and
Megawati's meeting with East Timor president-elect Xanana Gusmao
in Jakarta on Thursday.

"East Timor was an irritant in our relationship but also the
moves towards greater democratization in Indonesia generally are
making the relationship easier across the board," he said.

"I think countries like New Zealand -- which have been
prepared to be critical where they judged it necessary -- also
have a responsibility to be supportive and commendatory when they
see things in their judgment improving," he said.

"You can't just keep criticizing without offering praise where
it is due."

Refugees and trade relations will also top the agenda when
Clark meets Megawati and Vice President Hamzah Haz on Monday. The
visiting prime minister will lay a wreath at the Kalibata Heroes
Cemetery, before calling on People's Consultative Assembly
Speaker Amien Rais and House of Representatives Speaker Akbar
Tandjung, who is presently on trial for graft.

New Zealand has already agreed to take more refugees from
Indonesia to help ease the flow of boat people who set out in
leaky boats bound for Australia each year.

Up to 200 refugees will from June be admitted to New Zealand
from Indonesia. At present, most of New Zealand's annual refugee
intake of 750 come from more distant areas such as the Balkans
and the Indian subcontinent.

"It's a recognition of the fact that Indonesia also has a
refugee problem; Indonesia didn't ask these people to come here
and it's not fair to tell Indonesia that they have got to sort
the problem out. We have to try and help."

Clark will also witness the signing of an agreement between
New Zealand and the UN on an aid program to assist primary school
education, part of the NZ$40 million which Wellington will spend
on Indonesian aid over the next five years.

Tensions between the two countries reached a high point in
July 2000 when New Zealand peacekeeper Leonard Manning was
murdered by pro-Jakarta militiamen while on patrol near the West
Timor border.

Clark last year expressed her disappointment with the lenience
of the six-year sentence handed down to one of Manning's killers.
Another two suspected killers were acquitted earlier this year.

"We were pretty satisfied with the way those trials were
conducted," Elder said. "We didn't think the sentence was strong
enough and we are pleased the prosecution are appealing, and we
are also pleased the prosecution is appealing against the
acquittal of the other two men."