TNI not expecting U.S. to lift arms embargo

TNI not expecting U.S. to lift arms embargo

Tiarma Siboro, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Indonesian Military (TNI) does not expect security talks
between Indonesian and the United States governments this week to
end with the lifting of a military embargo imposed by the U.S.
Congress, an official said on Monday.

Maj. Gen. Sudrajat, director general of defense strategy at
the Ministry of Defense, said that a vast range of topics,
excluding that on the military embargo, would be discussed
between senior officials of the two governments during the
meeting, saying it was likely that the two sides would exchange
views on security matters at both international and regional
levels.

"Of course we are seeking an opportunity to discuss the
military embargo, but we must understand that such a policy was
initiated by the U.S. Congress, not the executive branch,"
Sudrajat said.

Sudrajat will lead the Indonesian delegation during the talks,
scheduled to take place here on Wednesday and Thursday at
Borobudur Hotel. The U.S. delegation will be led by Peter Brooke,
the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific
affairs.

The meeting, which is a follow up to a summit between
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and President George W. Bush in
Washington DC days after the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the
U.S., is aimed at "establishing regular dialog between the
civilian-led ministries on security issues facing both nations in
the region".

"We will discuss many things concerning security and how to
cope with them. One of the possible topics is terrorism, in which
we will explain to them why we were unable to make any arrests or
take stern measures against those allegedly involved in terrorist
activities. We are not the Philippines, Malaysia or Singapore.

"What makes us different from these neighboring countries is
our legal system, which does not enforce the Internal Security
Act (ISA)," Sudrajat told The Jakarta Post at his office.

During their meeting last September, Bush and Megawati issued
a joint statement that included Bush's promise to restore U.S.
military aid and pledge to provide financial aid totaling
US$657.4 million.

The joint statement also sought the renewal of military ties
between the two countries, which were disrupted after widespread
violence in East Timor following an independence vote in
September 1999. TNI has been implicated in the atrocities.

The U.S. imposed an embargo on arms and military spare parts
and froze its international military training, cooperation on
education and foreign military funds.

Military ties between the two countries have been gradually
restored since 2000, but the U.S. keeps the embargo on combat
equipment intact.

TNI has expressed hopes that the upcoming talks will lead to
the resumption of full military ties between the two countries.

Sudrajat brush aside the expectation, saying that the U.S.
Congress would only consider the lifting of the embargo if it
feels satisfied with the ongoing legal process against military
officers and some East Timorese pro-Jakarta figures accused of
committing gross human rights violations in the former Portuguese
colony.

"At worst, we should stop our dependence on the U.S. in
military equipment supply and look for other countries should the
human rights tribunal fail to impress the U.S. Congress,"
Sudrajat said.

"But once again, do we have enough funds to realize this?"