U.S. keeping Army out of resumed military aid

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono confirmed on Friday the United States did not include the Army in the gradual normalization of military ties with Indonesia because of a lot of "unfinished business".

Juwono told reporters that while other military services were being approached by the U.S., the Army was not included in joint military training or support because it was still under scrutiny in many incidents.

"Frankly speaking, the Army has been in the spotlight lately because of too many problems," Juwono said.

The Army has been accused of involvement in most alleged human rights abuses across the country.

The U.S. earlier this week signaled it was taking preliminary steps which could lead to normalization of military ties which were suspended following the mayhem in East Timor in September.

Juwono said full military ties could be resumed only if the Indonesian government managed to settle East Timor border problems and with an improvement of civilian supremacy over the military.

"The Indonesian Navy and National Police in the near future will receive several (types of) support from the U.S. government," Juwono said, adding the realization would be next month.

The support will mainly cover the purchase of military equipment and spare parts.

"Besides military equipment, for the National Police there will be training, especially on human rights issues," he added.

The training for the police will focus on the establishment of a responsible and accountable judicial system for criminal and human rights abuses cases, Juwono said.

Juwono explained that joint Air Force exercises could be held in late July, perhaps in the Maluku islands.

"Hopefully, the U.S. will consider helping the Air Force and the Army in the next two or three months."

Border

Meanwhile, Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri and peacekeeping force commander Lt. Gen. Jaime de Los Santos said after a meeting in Denpasar, Bali, on Friday that they were pleased with the continued improvements in border security between east and west Timor.

"Since the tactical borderlines were agreed on there have been no more land incursions," Kiki said. He stressed the tactical borderlines were not official demarcations for state borders.

He said the borderlines were only agreed upon for convenience in ensuring border security.

"During the Portuguese colonial period there was a clear border which separated east and west Timor. But after integration it became increasingly vague as there would be villagers from west Timor farming lands which stretched into east Timor, and vice versa."

De Los Santos also affirmed the amiable cooperation since a memorandum of understanding was signed on April 11 on the tactical borders.

"I must say that since the signing of the MU the condition in the border has been very, very positive and we also have close cooperation between TNI (Indonesian Military) and the members of the PKF," he said. (dja)