U.S. to resume military ties with Indonesia
U.S. to resume military ties with Indonesia
JAKARTA (JP): The United States has quietly moved to begin
mending military ties with Indonesia after they were suspended
for more than eight months following the East Timor debacle.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Alwi Shihab confirmed on Thursday
the decision and hailed Washington's decision.
He termed it "good" news.
Rather than elaborating on the dynamics of the process for the
preliminary normalization of military ties, Alwi patted himself
on the back as the architect of the breakthrough.
"It's one of the accomplishments of a foreign minister whose
success must be noted," said as trying to answer back at recent
critics who have said he meddles too much in domestic affairs.
Without hesitation, Alwi responded to journalists' questions
by stating Washington's decision was a result of his meeting with
U.S. State Secretary Madeleine Albright.
"Yes. We said we would open all opportunities in making
Indonesia-America relations without impediments, including the
military relationship," he said.
Alwi neglected to mention that the U.S. decision was not
unexpected.
Minister of Defense Juwono Sudarsono met with Pentagon
officials in Washington in April and expressed optimism the
United States would resume military assistance.
Washington's decision comes only after the European Union
lifted its embargo in January and at a time when Indonesia
defense officials have several times asserted that they would
look to countries other than the United States in its military
dealings.
Reform
U.S. officials in Washington earlier said the move was a
result of Indonesia being able to demonstrate its seriousness in
pursuing reform, including in the military sphere.
"It (the Indonesian government) has moved to establish
civilian control over the military and accountability for the
military abuses in East Timor and throughout Indonesia," U.S.
State Department spokesman Phil Reeker as saying.
"So we're looking for further progress and trying to find ways
we can encourage positive reform, we will be examining our own
military-to-military relationship. But no decisions have
been made, so the basic policy established in September
remains," he said during a daily press briefing.
Washington suspended all joint military exercises and
exchanges and other support for Indonesia on Sept. 9 to protest
the violence which swept the territory following a historic
referendum.
Meanwhile, Pentagon spokesman Kenneth Bacon described the
decision as a modest step in an acknowledgement of the new
government's interests in constructing civilian control over the
military.
Bacon noted the departure of coordinating minister for
political affairs and security Gen. (ret) Wiranto as a
significant example of its progress to make the military
accountable for its action in East Timor.
"They have made some progress toward reform and accountability
and reform in their military. They have worked hard to improve
conditions along the border with East Timor. They are moving
towards civilian control of the military," he was quoted as
saying by AFP.
However, Bacon noted the U.S. still excluded the Army from the
preliminary contacts.
The Indonesian Air Force sent 10 observers to the Cobra Gold
exercise in Thailand, which involved U.S., Thai and Singaporean
forces. The exercises ended Tuesday.
Navy personnel also have been invited to take part in a
bilateral exercise in July as part of the Cooperative and
Readiness Afloat Training (CARAT), which the U.S. Navy conducts
with Southeast Asian countries, he said.
"These are the first steps. We have to think about what steps
we take after this. The steps we are contemplating will continue
to be modest in terms of exchanges," said Bacon.
It is still not clear whether the U.S. decision also includes
the restoration of the International Military Exercise and
Training (IMET) program. (prb)