RI lobbies foreign politicians

RI lobbies foreign politicians

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Secretary general of the defense ministry Rear Marshal Suprihadi,
said on Tuesday that his ministry had lobbied politicians in
Europe and the United States against supporting separatist groups
in Indonesia.

He also said that his office had improved coordination with
Indonesian representatives in foreign countries for a similar
purpose.

"We lobby members of the European parliament and U.S. congress
who back separatism to reduce their support," Suprihadi told a
hearing with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I for
defense and security affairs here on Tuesday.

He made the statement in response to legislators' concerns
over the increasing activities of separatist groups from Aceh and
Papua in foreign countries, in their bids to gain international
support.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri said earlier that some
foreign countries were actively supporting separatist movements
in the country.

The Free Aceh Movement (GAM) has been fighting for
independence for the resource-rich province since 1976, while the
Free Papua Movement (OPM) has been fighting for independence for
the country's easternmost province Papua since the 1960s.

Suprihadi dubbed the joint activities of Aceh and Papua
separatist groups as the "Axes of Aceh-Papua".

According to Suprihadi, the ministry had also been
disseminating information to the global community on the stance
of the Indonesian government on handling separatism in Aceh and
Papua.

He said the ministry would continue dialogs with politicians,
scholars, media, and non governmental groups, both domestic and
from abroad.

Suprihadi said that his ministry would try to convince foreign
countries that the extension of martial law in Aceh would create
a conducive situation ahead of the 2004 elections.

Alluding to the readiness of government troops to combat
Acehnese guerrillas, Suprihadi said that the lack of helicopters
was to blame for the poor performance of the troops in Aceh, as
air assaults against separatist guerrillas were restricted.

The military operates 18 helicopters to assist integrated
operations in Aceh, 8 of which are Bell, 3 Puma, and 7 Bolco.

Indonesian Military (TNI) chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto said
last week that Libya had promised to assist Indonesia with
military equipment to fight against the Acehnese rebels.

He also said that Libya would send a number of trainers and
instructors to help TNI.

Some rebel leaders, now fighting government troops in Aceh,
are believed to have undergone military training in Libya.
However, during a meeting with President Megawati in Tripoli in
August, Libyan President Moammar Khadafy denied the allegation.