[asia-apec 1838] Congress Bolsters Ban on Training for Indonesia With One Bill, Opens Loophole w/ Another

[John M. Miller]

East Timor Action Network/U.S.
Indonesia Human Rights Network

Media Release

For Immediate Release

Contact:

John M. Miller, 718-5967668; mobile: 917-690-4391; john at etan.org

Kurt Biddle (IHRN); (202) 393-4554; mobile (202) 422-3214; 
kurt at indonesianetwork.org

Congress Bolsters Ban on Training for Indonesia With One Bill, While 
Opening a Loophole with Another

December 21,2001 -- This week Congress strengthened conditions on 
resumption of military training in one bill, even as it opened a loophole 
to allow training under another. While the Indonesia Human Rights Network 
(IHRN) and the East Timor Action Network (ETAN) applauded one Congressional 
action, they vowed to strenuously oppose the inclusion of the Indonesia 
military under a new program.

The Foreign Operations Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2002 (HR 2506), 
passed by both houses of Congress this week, maintains the ban on 
International Military Education and Training (IMET) and Foreign Military 
Financing programs for Indonesia. Indonesia must meet newly strengthened 
conditions on human rights, access to conflict areas, and release of 
political detainees before this assistance can be resumed.

However, a last minute change in the Defense Department Appropriations Act 
(HR 3338) allows U.S. training of Indonesian military officers. 
Restrictions in the foreign operations bill will not apply to this 
training. Congress finished work on both bill on Thursday.

"Justice, peace and democracy will never flourish in Indonesia as long as 
its military remains unaccountable," said Kurt Biddle, Washington 
Coordinator of IHRN. "The foreign operations bill supports the Indonesian 
people who continue to be subject to intimidation, torture and murder by a 
military that is supposed to protect them from outside enemies. 
Unfortunately, the defense bill could undermine that support."

Congress first voted to restrict IMET for Indonesia, which brings foreign 
military officers to the U.S. for training, in response to the November 12, 
1991 Santa Cruz massacre in East Timor. All military ties were severed in 
September 1999 as the Indonesian military and its militia proxies razed 
East Timor following its pro-independence vote. The original conditions 
codified into law in late 1999 include the safe return of East Timorese 
refugees, prosecution of those responsible for atrocities in East Timor and 
Indonesia, and security for East Timor from military and militia activity. 
None of these conditions have been met.

"The 2002 Act rightfully recognizes the impunity enjoyed by Indonesian 
security forces for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor in 1999 
and the continued control of tens of thousands of East Timorese refugees by 
militia leaders living freely in Indonesian West Timor," said Karen 
Orenstein, Washington Coordinator of ETAN.

"The Pentagon's latest move to gut the ban on Indonesian military training 
amounts to deliberate backsliding on human rights protections for the 
people of Indonesia and East Timor," she added.

New conditions in the foreign operations bill include the release of all 
political detainees, open access to conflict regions, and reporting to 
civilian authorities audits of the military's receipts and expenditures. 
The International Crisis Group estimates that as little as 30% of the 
Indonesian military's operating budget is provided by Jakarta. The majority 
of the military's budget is raised through their own businesses, both legal 
and illegal.

The defense bill establishes a Regional Defense Counter-terrorism 
Fellowship Program. Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) added the program to the 
bill at the behest of Admiral Dennis C. Blair, Commander in Chief of the 
U.S. Pacific Command. What will be taught remains undefined.

The East Timor Action Network/U.S. (ETAN) advocates for democracy, 
sustainable development, justice and human rights, including women's 
rights, for the people of East Timor. ETAN calls for an international 
tribunal to prosecute crimes against humanity that took place in East Timor 
since 1975. See http://www.etan.org.

The Indonesia Human Rights Network (IHRN) is a U.S.-based grassroots 
organization working to influence U.S. foreign policy and international 
economic interests to support democracy, demilitarization, and justice 
through accountability and rule of law in Indonesia. IHRN seeks to end 
armed forces repression in Indonesia by exposing it to international 
scrutiny. IHRN works with and advocates on behalf of people throughout the 
Indonesian archipelago to strengthen civil society. See 
www.IndonesiaNetwork.org.

-30-


etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan
John M. Miller         Internet: john at etan.org
Media & Outreach Coordinator, East Timor Action Network
48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668      Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile phone: (917)690-4391
Web site: http://www.etan.org

Send a blank e-mail message to info at etan.org to find out
how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet
etanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetanetan