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".