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.