Rights groups against RI-U.S. military ties

Rights groups against RI-U.S. military ties

WASHINGTON (AP): Six human rights groups are opposing resumed military ties between Indonesia and the United States, saying it would send signals that Washington is ready to overlook Indonesia's alleged human rights abuses in East Timor.

In a letter to members of the U.S. Congress and government released Thursday, the groups called military ties between the two countries "indefensible".

The letter also warned that any positive effect Washington's suspension of military ties with Indonesia may have would be squandered.

"Any signal that the U.S. is beginning to warm up to the Indonesian military is taken as a sign that the kind of violence that is going on against the East Timorese will be encouraged," said Loren Ryter of the East Timor Action Network.

The United States severed military ties with Indonesia in September following violence which erupted following a United Nations-sponsored ballot.

Washington had been Indonesia's primary supplier of weapons systems for several decades, and the two countries had an active training exchange program until the East Timor crisis last year.

The United States is now reconsidering the suspension on condition that those responsible for last year's violence in East Timor be punished.

"Given the Indonesian military makes no distinction between national defense and domestic policing, the U.S. must admit that any training and aid provided to the military can just as easily be used against Indonesian citizens," read the statement released by the groups.