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.