U.S. school severs ties with Indonesia

U.S. school severs ties with Indonesia

MONTPELIER, Vermont (AP): Norwich University said it would
sever ties with the Indonesian military, which pays for 11
students to attend the school and has been accused of human
rights abuses in East Timor three months ago.

"We are no longer going to accept payments from the Indonesian
military for students to attend Norwich," said Tom Greene,
spokesman for the oldest private military school in the U.S.

Norwich has been under pressure to take action regarding the
14 Indonesian students on campus since President Bill Clinton
issued a ban on U.S. support for the Indonesian military Sept. 8.

The ban followed an Aug. 30 ballot in East Timor that
triggered violence.

Norwich officials have maintained that the presidential ban
did not apply to the private school.

But on Monday, university President Richard Schneider said he
had concluded the alleged abuses and continued meddling by the
military in the Indonesian government justified severing ties.

Greene said Norwich would offer scholarships to the 11
students funded by the Indonesian military, so they could finish
their educations. Three other Indonesian students on campus are
funded by their families, he said.

"The students who are currently at Norwich have done nothing
wrong personally, are valued members of our intellectual
community," Greene said. "We will honor our commitment to help
educate them."