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?"