Susilo to lobby U.S. on arms

Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono hopes to persuade U.S. legislators to withdraw the ban on the sale of U.S. military equipment and spare parts to Indonesia, which was imposed in 1991 due to the country's poor human rights record.

"Hopefully, the President can settle it as he is seen as a pioneer of democracy in the world's most populous Muslim nation," Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono said on Friday.

Susilo will depart for the U.S. on Tuesday for a three-day working visit as part of a two-week overseas trip that includes Japan and Vietnam.

An explanation by the President about ongoing reforms in various areas to help improve human rights conditions here is expected to convince the U.S. Senate and Congress to end the embargo.

The President will also explain to U.S. legislators the country's commitment to upholding human rights, including settling cases of gross human rights violations in East Timor in 1999 and the murder of two U.S. nationals on Aug. 31, 2002 in Papua.

Juwono said that some U.S. congresspeople would continue to push the Indonesian government to ensure justice was done in relation to both cases, adding that the U.S. government had no problems with the issue.

"Congress is very influential in (U.S. government) decision- making. (They) are being influenced by the media and non- governmental organizations," he said.

Indonesia has raised its expectations for a full resumption of military ties with the U.S. following the latter's decision to resume the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program with Indonesia.

Susilo's visit to the U.S. will be his first since becoming the president in October 2004. He is scheduled to meet with U.S. President George W. Bush, other top government officials including Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and Minister of Finance John Snow, and a number of CEOs of giant U.S. companies such as Microsoft, ExxonMobil, Newmont and Philip Morris.

After the U.S. visit, he will fly to Vietnam for a state visit and to Japan for a working visit.

The President's visit to Japan is expected to come up with a number of action plans aimed at improving business and the investment climate in Indonesia, boost trade and investment activities between the two countries, and to seek ways to start negotiations on the planned economic partnership agreement, which also covers a free-trade area scheme.