[Kabar-indonesia] ETAN on military assistance to Indonesia in the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations bill (HR 2764)

[John M Miller]

ETAN Statement on provisions related to military assistance to 
Indonesia and human rights in Indonesia and East Timor in the FY2008 
Consolidated Appropriations bill (HR 2764)

Contact: John M. Miller, New York +1/917-690-4391; 
<mailto:etan at etan.org>etan at etan.org

December 18, 2007 -- Increased U.S. support for the Indonesia 
military is not the way to promote reform or human rights 
accountability. In fact, the history of the U.S.-Indonesia 
relationship demonstrates the exact opposite. Since the Bush 
Administration waived all restrictions (November 2005), military 
reform in Indonesia and human rights accountability for past 
violations have stalled or gone backwards. This bill will not change 
this trend.

The amount appropriated for Foreign Military Financing - $15.7 
million - is more than double the amount allocated for the Indonesian 
military in 2007. We can see no dramatic change in the Indonesian 
military's conduct over the past year to warrant such a generous increase.

Some of this money is temporarily set aside until the Department of 
State reports on actions and progress concerning human rights 
accountability, military reform and access to Papua. Assuming an 
honest assessment by the Department of State, the question is what 
will the Congress and Administration do with the information. If 
State finds that Indonesia has not made significant progress in these 
areas, Congress should rethink the strategy of rewarding the 
Indonesian military with assistance.

Beginning with the ouster of General Suharto in 1998, the Indonesian 
people were able to pressure their government to take initial steps 
toward reform. However, since the U.S. has re-engaged with the 
Indonesia military, such progress has all but stopped. Historically, 
the Indonesian military's (TNI) worst abuses occurred when the U.S. 
was most engaged with it. Indonesia's current president has not 
fulfilled his promise to reform the military budget and to hold 
members of the military accountable.

An unreformed Indonesian military will be in strong position to exert 
influence on the key 2009 national elections by drawing on its vast 
business resources to subvert the process; employing thug-militias to 
intimidate critics, especially in the smaller parties and among civil 
society; and manipulating elections down to village level where it 
retains strong influence through its "territorial system."

Clearly, restoration of binding conditions restricting FMF, 
International Military Education and Training (IMET), and certain 
other forms of security assistance is needed to persuade the 
Indonesian military to resume the reform process. Next year Congress 
must send a clear and unambiguous message in support of democracy and 
human rights.

For many years, Congress used the appropriations process to encourage 
military and democratic reform in Indonesia and to advocate for 
genuine accountability for human rights violations committed by 
Indonesian forces in East Timor and Indonesia. The FY2008 
appropriations bill is not in this worthy tradition.

We thank the strong advocates for holding the Indonesian military 
accountable and encouraging genuine reform, especially Senator 
Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY).

Background

The passage of the appropriations bill comes as the State Department 
appears to be moving towards endorsing re-engagement with Kopassus 
and Brimob, respectively the two most notorious units of the 
Indonesian military and police, with long histories of human rights violations.

The bill would withhold $2.7 million until the Department of State 
reports "steps taken" by Indonesia to among other things: hold 
accountable members of the military "credibly alleged to have 
committed gross violations of human rights"  and implementation of 
"reforms to increase the transparency and accountability of their 
operations and financial management"; as well whether the Government 
of Indonesia "has written plans to effectively provide account 
ability for past violations of human rights by members of the Armed 
Forces, and is implementing plans to effectively allow public access 
to Papua and to pursue the criminal investigation and provide the 
projected time frame for completing the investigation of the murder 
of Munir Said Thalib."

The bill also requires a separate report from the Department of State 
on steps taken by Indonesia "to deny promotion, suspend from active 
service, and pursue prosecution of military officers indicted for 
serious crimes" and "the extent to which past and present Indonesian 
military officials are co-operating with domestic inquiries into 
human rights abuses...." The report would also describe "the steps 
taken by the Indonesian military to divest itself of illegal 
businesses," as well as Indonesian and Timor-Leste government 
responses to the Final Report of Timor's Commission for Reception, 
Truth and Reconciliation (CAVR) and the June 2006 report of the 
report to the Secretary-General of the UN Commission of Experts to 
Review the Prosecution of Serious Violations of Human Rights in 
Timor-Leste in 1999. Indonesia has been dismissive of both reports.

Current and former military accused of serious crimes continue to 
receive promotions and sensitive assignments. For example, Col. 
Burhanuddin Siagian, a senior commander in West Papua -- twice 
indicted for crimes against humanity by the UN-backed Serious Crimes 
Process in East Timor -- said recently that he would "destroy" anyone 
who "betrays the nation." This month, the military commander in 
Maluku province told his soldiers that they may shoot separatists on 
the spot if necessary. Regulations to implement three-year old 
legislation to end military-ownership of businesses have yet to be 
issued, despite repeated promises to do so. Furthermore, despite a 
recent visit by a member of the U.S. Congress, access to Papua 
remains restricted, and Papuan human rights advocates who recently 
met with UN officials are facing harassment.

The Asian Human Rights Commission recently reported that "Changes 
initiated in recent years have not been pursued, due in large part to 
a lack of political will.... [T]he military continues to be the 
dominant institution in many regions and historic injustices have not 
been righted. Impunity remains the key feature of law and order, for 
torture and other gross abuses of human rights."

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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John M. Miller         etan at igc.org
National Coordinator, East Timor & Indonesia Action Network
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