Rights Group Calls for Restrictions on Military Assistance to Indonesia to Promote Reform and Accountability
House Committee Would Turn a Blind Eye to Rights Violations, Impunity
For Immediate Release
May 25, 2006 - The East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN) today urged Congress to restore restrictions on
military assistance for Indonesia in the FY 2007 Foreign Operations Appropriations bill. Over the objection of the
Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Ranking Member, Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chairperson Jim Kolbe (R-AZ) insisted
on funding weapons sales and military training for Indonesia.
"The committee's failure under Mr. Kolbe's leadership to impose any conditions on assistance to the Indonesian military
will only setback reform and accountability. The committee has turned a blind eye to the ongoing violations, impunity,
and horrific record of the Indonesian military (TNI), a record acknowledged in report language accompanying the bill,"
said Karen Orenstein, National Coordinator for ETAN.
"The TNI pays attention to Congress's action, not its rhetoric," added Orenstein.
"In the past, Congress has consistently imposed limits on assistance to Indonesia to promote human rights and reform,"
said Orenstein. "We urge Congress to continue in that role, by restoring restrictions without a waiver before passing
the bill."
Highlights of the Bill
The committee recommended $4,500,000 foreign military financing (FMF) program for Indonesia, $3,510,000 more than this
year. The committee expressed "continuing concern about the professionalism of the Indonesian military" and stated that
providing additional assistance in "no way signals decreased concern about the poor human rights record of the
Indonesian military forces."
The TNI's record in Timor-Leste was most recently documented in the report of its Commission for Reception, Truth and
Reconciliation. The committee welcomed this report and urged "the Governments of Indonesia, East Timor, and other
interested nations to examine, consider and respond to recommendations made in the report." It also urged "the
Government of Indonesia to work to implement" the recommendations of the UN Secretary General's Commission of Experts,
which last year evaluated accountability for serious crimes committed in East Timor in 1999.
The committee also directed the Department of State "to report on the current climate for human rights defenders in
Indonesia" The committee highlighted the September 2004 poisoning death of human rights lawyer Munir Said Thalib, noting
that Indonesia's president had yet to release the report of the his own fact-finding team's investigation into the
assassination and emphasized "the need to fully investigate any past or present senior government or military officials
implicated by that report."
Background
Last November, Congress agreed to continue restrictions on Foreign Military Finance (FMF) and export of "lethal"
military equipment to Indonesia until human rights and other conditions were met. Two days after the bill became law,
the Department of State issued a waiver removing all remaining congressional restrictions on U.S. military assistance to
Indonesia. Congress had imposed various restrictions on military assistance for Indonesia since 1992.
When issuing the waiver, the State department pledged to "carefully calibrate" any assistance to the TNI. Instead, the
administration's actions demonstrate a policy of unrestrained engagement with the TNI.
Last week, 15 human rights, religious and other organizations urged the House foreign operations appropriations
subcommittee to reinstate restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Indonesia as the best way "to influence positive
change in Indonesia and to encourage justice for the people of Timor-Leste." They called legislated restrictions on FMF
and lethal defense exports, without a national security waiver, "the most important leverage the U.S. Congress can
exercise."
Earlier in May, the administration announced it would provide up to $19 million for the Indonesian military through a
new Pentagon program "to build foreign military force capacity." The groups in their letter wrote "this amount dwarfs
recent assistance levels," and that "this appropriation further invalidates any justification to provide FMF for
Indonesia for FY07...."
In addition to assistance through the new Pentagon program, recent administration moves have included the participation
of the commander of Kopassus, the Indonesian military's notorious special forces unit, in the Pentagon's annual Pacific
Area Special Operation Conference (PASOC) in April. This month, the Indonesian military for the first time is
participating in the Cobra Gold regional military exercise with the United States and other countries.
In its final report, Timor-Leste's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation called on countries to make
military assistance to Indonesia "totally conditional on progress towards full democratisation, the subordination of the
military to the rule of law and civilian government, and strict adherence with international human rights..."
In March, the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command stated in testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee that
he endorsed "a rapid, concerted infusion of assistance" for the TNI.
ETAN advocates for democracy, justice and human rights for East Timor and Indonesia. ETAN calls for an international
tribunal to prosecute crimes against humanity committed in East Timor from 1975 to 1999 and for restrictions on U.S.
military assistance to Indonesia until there is genuine reform of its security forces. For additional background, see www.etan.org.
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ETAN welcomes your financial support. For more info: http://etan.org/etan/donate.htm
John M. Miller Internet: fbp@igc.org
National Coordinator East Timor & Indonesia 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@etan.org to find out how to learn more about East Timor on the Internet
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