Resumption of IMET boosts RI-U.S. military relations

Resumption of IMET boosts RI-U.S. military relations

Kurniawan Hari and Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The decision by the United States Senate Appropriations Committee
to endorse the allocation of US$400,000 for the training of the
Indonesian Military (TNI) will boost relations between the armed
forces of the two countries, according to one military observer.

Hasnan Habib, a three-star general (retired), told The Jakarta
Post on Sunday that the International Military Education and
Training (IMET) facility would help Indonesian officers expand
their views on various international issues such as democracy and
human rights.

"Indonesian military officers will also learn how to handle
insurgency and terrorism," said Hasnan Habib, who is also a
former Indonesian ambassador to the United States.

Directorate General for defense strategy at the Ministry of
Defense Maj. Gen. Sudrajat said the military training program was
required to enhance the TNI's professionalism as well as its
sense of democratization and understanding of civil society.

The United States had in the past funded the training of
Indonesian military officers, but this was halted in 1992
following the massacre of East Timorese at Santa Cruz cemetery in
1991.

This decision adversely affected relations between the armed
forces of the two countries. Today, many officers currently
holding key positions in the TNI are unknown to U.S. military
leaders, making communication between them difficult.

For Indonesian officers, on the other hand, the decision
deprived them of an opportunity to learn about the United States,
its democratic values and human rights.

On Friday, some human rights campaigners slammed the budget
approval, arguing the military were still refusing to prosecute
officers accused of human rights abuses.

"TNI does not deserve this program as they are continuing to
defy legal procedures and demand impunity for all their
wrongdoings in the past," said Hendardi, of the Indonesian Legal
Aid and Human Rights Association (PBHI).

According to Hasnan Habib, the decision to resume the IMET
program might restore the opportunity for TNI to improve its
military capabilities, giving the U.S. military more support in
its anti-terrorism campaign.

Military analyst Kusnanto Anggoro of the Centre for Strategic
and International Studies (CSIS) suggested TNI should not
misinterpret the U.S. Senate's decision as a sign of appreciation
of reform.

"The Indonesian Military must continue its internal reform. I
think military reform at the moment is at a standstill," Kusnanto
told the Post.

TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin welcomed the
decision but cautioned that a joint working group still had to
discuss what kind of military training was appropriate for TNI at
this point.

"I guess the working group will first of all ask for non-
combat strategy training from the U.S. military. But since
combating terrorism has become our commitment, maybe we can
exchange experiences with the U.S. in dealing with this issue,"
Sjafrie said.

Sudrajat agreed, saying the Committee's proposal has yet to be
endorsed by the Senate during its plenary meeting in October.

Sjafrie brushed aside suggestions that the proposal indicated
Indonesia has a link with international terrorism as many have
accused.

"The most important thing for TNI is that the recovering
military ties between the two countries will not affect our
country's sovereignty. If any international terrorist group makes
a link with certain groups here, we will not allow the U.S. to
execute them in our territory," Sjafrie told the Post over the
weekend.

Sudrajat also admitted, however, that some military officers
were involved in radical groups.

"But at the present they (these military officers) no longer
hold strategic positions either at TNI headquarters, or in Army
headquarters," Sudrajat told the Post.