U.S. considers renewed military ties with RI

U.S. considers renewed military ties with RI

CANBERRA (Reuters): The United States would like to resume military ties with Indonesia following the appointment of a new government but is mindful of human rights concerns, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell said on Monday.

"We want to have a relationship with the Indonesian military, but we want to be satisfied that those human rights abuses are behind us," Powell said in a television interview in Australia ahead of annual talks between Australia and the United States.

Most Western countries suspended military cooperation with the world's fourth most populous nation in the wake of the bloodshed that swept East Timor in 1999 when the region voted to break free from Indonesia.

Military ties between the U.S. and Indonesian militaries are restricted to humanitarian and disaster relief exercises, ruling out arms sales to Jakarta.

Regional security experts say the new administration of President George W. Bush has been mulling for some time the possibility of easing some of the restrictions.

Powell's comments in Australia, where he winds up his first Asian tour, came on the heels of the latest shift in power in Indonesia where President Megawati Sukarnoputri, with the backing of the army, took over from ousted Abdurrahman Wahid.

Powell said congressional restrictions on the relationship with Indonesia may need to be changed. He did not comment when asked if this would mean seeking approval for arms sales.

"We will approach the new Indonesian government with an attitude of helpfulness but also an attitude of caution and we will only provide those things consistent with our laws," he said.

"We will go back to our Congress to get those laws modified or waived if that seems to be a problem...but we are very sensitive to human rights concerns."

The U.S. Congress in 1998 passed a measure, sponsored by Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, prohibiting the United States from training foreign security forces who violate civil rights.

Arms sales

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, following the talks in the Australian capital with Powell and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, said he backed the resumption of military contacts between Jakarta and Washington.

He told a news conference that Australia would always emphasize in its contacts with the Indonesian military that it adhere to international human rights standards.

"But bearing all that in mind, we see value in the United States and we see great value in Australia having quite substantial contact with the Indonesian military," he said.

Australia has said arms sales and military training should be restricted until there is clear evidence Indonesia's military has reformed the brutal behavior it displayed in East Timor, and proves it is subservient to the democratic civilian leadership.

Australia led a multinational peace-enforcement mission in East Timor after the overwhelming vote for independence triggered a wave of killing and destruction by pro-Jakarta militias, who were backed by the Indonesian military.