U.S. Army joins talk on armed law

JAKARTA (JP): A group of military law experts from the U.S. Army together with their Indonesian counterparts and some unit commanders of the Armed Forces (ABRI) took part in a one-day discussion on the law of armed conflict here Thursday.

The conference at the Jakarta Military Command headquarters were meant to strengthen bilateral ties between both armed forces, particularly in promoting the use of such military law, the command's spokesman Col. DJ Nachrowi said.

He gave no details on the American team but said there were 100 participants altogether.

The command's Chief of Staff Brig. Gen. Sudi Silalahi, who opened the meeting, hoped the discussion would further improve the professional understanding and capability of the Indonesian participants on the legal aspects of national and international armed conflicts.

The social and cultural background differences of the participants could be synergized for the mutual benefit of both countries, he said.

"ABRI respects the law and human values in all of its actions," he told the discussion.

During the meeting, Sudi was accompanied by Col. Humberson, a U.S. military attach. (ivy)