U.S. gives Indonesia more aid, time on human rights

U.S. gives Indonesia more aid, time on human rights

WASHINGTON (Agencies) United States Secretary of State
Madeleine Albright promised Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi
Shihab on Thursday a big increase aid, and said Jakarta had time
to investigate war crimes in East Timor on its own before
Washington seeks further action.

Alwi earlier spent Wednesday urging the United Nations not to
set up an international tribunal to investigate the violence
following the Aug. 30 ballot in East Timor.

"She said that the United States will be watching very
carefully, as the whole world will be watching, the developments
of Indonesia's own human rights commission and will be awaiting
their work before deciding what additional steps may or may not
be necessary," Albright's spokesman, James Rubin, told
journalists .

Albright told Alwi that U.S. aid to Indonesia's government
would leap 66 percent to US$125 million this year and if Congress
approved, increase further in 2001, Rubin added.

"She was very pleased to tell him about the strong support the
United States has and will continue to have for the enormous
transition and the so far successful democratic transition in
Indonesia," Rubin said.

Success in democratic and economic reforms in Indonesia -- the
world's third largest democracy -- would be an important symbol
for the world, Rubin added.

Albright said Tuesday that besides Indonesia, Colombia,
Nigeria and Ukraine will benefit this year from special attention
and U.S aid.

Albright's meeting followed comments by U.S. Ambassador to the
United Nations Richard Holbrooke last week that the Indonesian
military must cooperate with human rights probes, or pressure
would mount for an international tribunal.

Although it is doubtful the Security Council would approve an
international tribunal for East Timor, the United Nations said
last week that Secretary-General Kofi Annan was reviewing a
report from a special UN inquiry and planned to make
recommendations for more action.

Jakarta has set up its own commission and has promised a
thorough and credible probe into the violence in East Timor which
many suspect worked with elements of the Indonesian military.

Alwi explained Indonesia's opposition to Annan and the
ambassadors of the United States, Russia, China and Japan at the
United Nations on Wednesday.

He reiterated Jakarta's position in a speech at Johns Hopkins
University's School for Advanced International Studies before
meeting Albright, where he said he would tell her, as he told
members of the UN Security Council in New York Wednesday, of
Indonesia opposition.

"It would be counterproductive because it would trigger a
xenophobic response and allow violators to wrap themselves in the
flag in an excessive spirit of nationalism," Alwi said.

He said Indonesia should have the chance to show that it meets
international standards by conducting its own hearings.

"If the commission concludes that Wiranto or others were
involved in abuses of power, they will have to resign."

Albright told Alwi that the United States supported the
"strong efforts they have made to try to come to grips with the
human rights problems through their own channels," Rubin said.

Rubin gave no time frame, but said Albright had urged that the
process move "very quickly".