Indonesian Observer March 30/2/02

US-INDONESIA MILITARY COOPERATION BACK ON THE TABLE

JAKARTA (IO): Two United States senators met with Indonesian officials on Saturday to review the suspended military cooperation between the two which followed after the East Timor mayhem in 1999.

Senators Daniel K. Inofye and Ted Stevens, along with U.S. Ambassador to Indonesia Ralph Boyce, hheld separate talks with Vice President Hamzah Haz, Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Indonesian Military (TNI) top officials. "The meeting looked at the possibility of reviewing the cooperation between Indonesia and the U.S. especially in military issues. "We discussed the security measures Indonesia has taken in dealing with terrorists," Susilo said Susilo added that he told the Americans that Indonesia was currently facing more complicated security problems than just the threat of global terrorism, as thecountry was at the same time tackling sectarian and communal clashes and public disorder.

"We asked the U.S, to look at the security problems in Indonesia in that context. It does not mean we are not serious in fighting terrorism, but we already are negotiating our way through a lot of problems," Susilo said. Officials from the two countries are down to hold a forum in April in Jakarta to review security cooperation and the possibility of restoring full military ties.The U.S. suspended military cooperation in protest over the alleged gross human rights violations in East Timor following the independence vote there. The Indonesian Military and its affiliated pro-autonomy militias have been blamed for the atrocities, which left hundreds killed and forced 250,000 East Timorese to seek refuge in neighboring West Timor. The U.S. has gradually restored military ties in the last 18 months or so but maintains an embargo on combat equipment. Officials here claim the ban has hampered security authorities in their effortsng peace and order and fighting terrorism.