U.S. says rights record affects ties with Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): A senior United States official warned yesterday that a fully robust bilateral relationship could not happen unless Indonesia improved its human rights record.

Speaking at a Worldnet Dialog session beamed from Washington to several Asian capitals, senior director for Asian affairs at the National Security Council, Sandra Kristoff, said that, while ties with Indonesia had many good aspects, human rights remained an area of concern.

"From our perspective the full potential of our relationship with Indonesia will not be achieved until we see some improvements in those human rights, civil liberties areas," she said.

"There is this one area where we have some differences. And I think that both officials in Jakarta and officials in Washington agree that without improvement there the possibility of a full robust relationship is being hindered," she said in response to questions from panelists here.

Jakarta and Washington have projected an affinity in developing their ties and have so far successfully avoided a major spat.

But the relationship has not been without irritations, the latest being the U.S. State Department's criticism of Indonesia's recent election. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas has rebuked this criticism.

Indonesia has also been irked by congressional pressure on the Clinton administration to link human rights issues to the sale of F-16s and participation in the International Military Education Training (IMET) program.

Indonesia lashed back at Congress by abandoning its plan to buy the F-16s and withdrawing from IMET.

Alatas said the decision had been taken to remove impediments which might hamper Clinton's efforts to develop ties with Indonesia.

Kristoff maintained yesterday that relations were good. "The U.S.-Indonesia relationship I think has not been damaged irreparably by some concerns and allegations and debate in the American press and the American public."

She also expressed hope that Indonesia could one day reconsider joining the IMET program.

"I think from our perspective it was one of the strongest most valuable programs between our defense departments and I think many of us would like to see that resume as soon as practicable," she said.

She stressed the importance of the bilateral relationship and described Indonesia as "an extremely important country to the United States".

Nevertheless, she said Washington would not back down in areas where human rights were concerned anywhere in the world. That "part of our foreign policy is to express American values and ideals," she said.

"To lead by the power of our example not just by the example of our power," she said. "We will always stand up and keep faith with those who speak up for freedom and human rights."

Kennedy

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign affairs released a statement yesterday slamming Congressman Patrick Kennedy's remark that the cancellation of the purchase of F-16s was "a major human rights victory".

The ministry said Kennedy's remark was "simply absurd".

"His claim that the decision of the Indonesian government was his personal victory is even more ludicrous," the ministry said.

The foreign ministry then reproached Kennedy for saying that the recent wave of killings in East Timor had been caused by a military crackdown while independent press reports said it had been the result of terrorism by Fretilin.

"His statement only reflects his lack of understanding and knowledge of the issues at hand and merely echoes the views of those who do not wish to find a solution to the East Timor question," the ministry's statement said.

The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated as a part of Indonesia in 1976. (mds)