RI officers to join 15-month military course in America

RI officers to join 15-month military course in America

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesia and the United States have taken a further step to
normalizing military ties with the inclusion of five Indonesian
middle ranking officers among attendants of a counter-terrorism
fellowship program hosted by the U.S.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Maj. Gen. Sjafrie
Sjamsoeddin said that the five officers would join dozens of
officers from several countries invited to undergo a 15-month
training at Naval post-graduate school in California, which is
slated to begin in September.

"This training program follows a previous agreement between
the governments of Indonesia and the U.S. in fighting against
terrorism. We (the TNI) hope that this program will lead to
resumption of military ties between two countries,

"We will strictly select officers from all forces, Navy, Air
Force, and Army, who fit the bill for the program," Sjafrie said.

According to Sjafrie, during the program, the five officers
will learn five major programs, namely the introduction to post-
conflict security building, war and post-conflict impacts,
consensus building strategy, network planning and organization,
and logistics provision in post-conflict areas.

At the end of the training, the students will participate in a
mandatory seminar on reconstruction of civil security.

"All expenses, including their tuition fee, allowance, as well
as accommodation, will be paid by the U.S. government," Sjafrie
told The Jakarta Post.

Pentagon officials have earlier revealed that Indonesia would
be part of the US$17 million program.

The invitation came ahead of the arrival of Secretary of State
Colin Powell here. The secretary of state visits Indonesia to,
among other things, offer help to the Southeast Asian country to
fight terrorism, and meet with Muslim leaders here.

On Friday, Powell is scheduled to meet with President Megawati
Soekarnoputeri, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda, and
economic and security ministers.

Following the terrorist attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001,
the President George W. Bush administration promoted
antiterrorism campaigns, which included a military operation in
Afghanistan, known as a hiding-place for Osama bin Laden, leader
of the international terrorist group network al Qaeda, whom the
U.S. believed to mastermind the attack.

Indonesia has came under a spotlight following the arrest of
several citizens abroad, including and Indonesian student Agus
Budiman in the U.S. and Agus Dwikarna in Philippine, for their
alleged links to international terrorist network.

Sectarian conflicts rocked Maluku and Poso, Central Sulawesi
where several foreign officials believed that terrorist
activities there are taking part there.

The country was hit by a series of bomb attacks in the last
few years, including the Christmas eve bombings which left dozens
killed in 2000.

The situation might force the U.S. government to evaluate the
country's military relationship with Indonesia which has been
strained since 1999 following the post-ballot violence in East
Timor which was blamed on TNI.

The U.S. Congress had earlier loosened military ties between
Indonesian and the U.S governments in 1992 following the massacre
at St. Cruz cemetery in Dili, East Timor.

A TNI senior officer said that the U.S. had recently insisted
on resuming its military ties with Indonesia because the country
was currently facing difficulties in establishing contact with
TNI leaders, especially among middle ranking officers who are now
holding key positions.

As part of the steps to resume security ties between two
countries, the U.S. government has planned to provide US$16
million for counter-terrorism exercises, but underlined that the
training would be for Indonesian Police's force instead of the
military.

The Bush administration also planned to allocate $400,000
during the current fiscal year to train civilians in anti-
terrorism activities.

Last month, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to lift
curbs on an international military training program (E-IMET), but
has yet to decide whether or not it would lift the embargo of
military equipments imposed on the TNI.