U.S. backs Indonesian territorial integrity
U.S. backs Indonesian territorial integrity
WASHINGTON (Agencies): Despite Washington's support for East
Timorese independence last year, the United States does not back
any of the other movements seeking to cut ties with Indonesia,
the U.S. State Department said Wednesday.
Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth said the United
States "does not want to be a party" to the dismantling of
Indonesia, saying such an outcome would have a "devastating"
impact throughout the region.
Roth testified before the House International Relations Asia-
Pacific subcommittee.
He said that East Timor was a unique situation because
Indonesia's integration of the territory was not recognized
internationally.
Roth added that the same circumstances do not apply to any of
the other regions where there are pro-independence movements.
Del. Eni Maleomavaega, a Democratic member of Congress who
represents American Samoa, took issue with Roth, particularly in
reference to Irian Jaya.
He suggested that Indonesia does not have a legitimate claim
to the region because of ethnic and linguistic differences and
other reasons.
"I consider this very shameful on the part of the
administration," Maleomavaega said.
Roth said the administration supports efforts by the
Indonesian government to open a dialog with territories which
have "very legitimate grievances."
On economic issues, Treasury Under Secretary Timothy Geithner
said there was very little foreign investment going into
Indonesia and very little return of Indonesian capital that fled
the country when the country underwent an economic and political
upheaval two years ago.
But, he said he was confident that capital will return if
Indonesia maintains its reformist economic policies.
Some keys to attracting foreign investment, he said, are
openness and an end to corruption, which he described as
"pervasive" under the previous regime.
Asked about the future of military-to-military ties, Roth said
the key issues for the administration are the establishment of
civil supremacy in Indonesia and assurances that military
personnel will be held accountable for their actions.
Meanwhile U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, speaking
to the House International Relations Committee described
Indonesia as a key democracy and investment target for the United
States in the region.
However she admitted that the ongoing strife in the Indonesian
provinces of Irian Jaya and Aceh worried the administration.
"This is something that is obviously of major concern to us.
They (Jakarta) need to find a peaceful solution to that problem."
"I would like to assure you this is something we talk about a
great deal," she added.