[Kabar-indonesia] ETAN: U.S. House Calls for Rights Accountability and Military Reform in Indonesia

[John M Miller]

Media Release

For Immediate Release

Contact John M. Miller (718) 596-7668; (917) 690-4391

U.S. House of Representatives Calls for Human Rights Accountability 
and Military Reform in Indonesia

June 22 - The U.S. House of Representatives today signaled continued 
congressional concern for human rights, accountability, and military 
reform in Indonesia and justice for East Timor. Several provisions in 
the Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (H.R. 2764) require 
reporting on progress in these areas prior to the release of certain 
military assistance funds, including reporting on the impact of US 
assistance on Indonesian security forces and any connections between 
US assistance and human rights violations by these forces. .

"Military reform in Indonesia remains stalled and human rights 
accountability lacking," said John M. Miller, National Coordinator of 
the East Timor and Indonesia Action Network (ETAN). "The Bush 
administration's policy of nearly unrestricted military assistance to 
Indonesia has clearly failed."

"The House appropriations bill highlights many of the most needed 
reforms. In contrast, the Bush administration appears to have no real 
strategy to promote basic reform of the Indonesian military (TNI)," 
added Miller. "Jakarta's failure to pursue effective reform 
underscores the need for the U.S. to use the only real leverage it 
has to press for change -- strong and binding restrictions on 
military assistance."

"After the dictator Suharto fell in 1998, Indonesia took important 
steps toward reform. However, once the U.S. began to re-engage with 
the Indonesia military, such efforts have all but stopped," according 
to Miller. "Historically, the Indonesian military's (TNI) worst 
abuses took place when the U.S. was most engaged."

Background

In November 2005, the State Department pledged that the Bush 
administration would "carefully calibrate" any assistance to the 
Indonesian military. Instead, the administration's actions have 
demonstrated a policy of nearly unrestrained engagement with the TNI.

Efforts to break up the military's legal and illegal business empire 
appear to have failed. Indonesia's Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono 
confirmed recently that according to the government criteria, only 
six military enterprises out of a total inventory of 1500 qualify as 
businesses to be turned over to the government. The military will 
retain control of its foundations and cooperatives.

Colonel Burhanuddin Siagian, regional military commander in West 
Papua, recently threatened to "destroy" any Papuans seeking their 
political rights. He has been twice indicted for crimes against 
humanity by the UN-supported serious crimes court in East Timor. 
Recently, Indonesian marines killed four civilians engaged in a 
protest over a land dispute with the Indonesian navy in East 
Java.  In addition, human rights defenders in Jakarta are currently 
protesting the promotions of two military officers involved in the 
1998 forced disappearances of democracy advocates.

This past April, representatives from ETAN and other human rights 
groups met with Sudarsono. Many of his comments demonstrated a lack 
of urgency about key issues of military reform and the failure to 
address past human rights violations. Despite Mr. Sudarsono's 
assertions, shortfalls in the military budget do not excuse the 
failure to take decisive action based on Indonesian and international law.

In the name of counter-terrorism, the TNI has sought to strengthen 
the territorial command system, which places soldiers in every 
Indonesian community. At the same time, its close association with 
domestic militias - which have terrorized civilian populations in 
East Timor, Aceh, West Papua and elsewhere - raises serious questions 
about its anti-terror bona fides. Under Indonesian law, the police -- 
not the military -- are to take the lead in addressing terrorist threats.

Rep. Nita Lowey (D-NY), chair of the State, Foreign Operations and 
Related Programs Subcommittee, is currently leading the effort in the 
House of Representatives to emphasize human rights in U.S.-Indonesia relations.

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 continued restrictions on U.S. military assistance to Indonesia 
until there is genuine reform of its security forces. For additional 
background, see <http://www.etan.org/>www.etan.org.

Highlights of the Bill (H.R. 2764)

The bill would cut the administration's request for Foreign Military 
Finance (FMF) funds nearly in half from $15.7 million to $8 million 
and would delay the release of $2 million of those funds until the 
State Department reports on: "steps taken by the Government of 
Indonesia" to prosecute and punish, "in a manner proportional to the 
crime," members of the Armed Forces who have been credibly alleged to 
have committed gross violations of human rights; cooperation with 
"civilian judicial authorities and international efforts to resolve 
cases of gross violations of human rights in East Timor and 
elsewhere"; and military reforms "to increase the transparency and 
accountability of their operations and financial management."

The bill would also delay provision of International Military 
Education and Training (IMET) until the Secretary of State reports on 
steps taken by Indonesia to "to deny promotion to and to remove from 
service military officers indicted for serious crimes"; Indonesian 
government responses to East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth 
and Reconciliation in Timor-Leste; implementation of the 2004 
Indonesian law requiring the Indonesian military to divest itself of 
businesses; and the removal of restrictions on travel to the 
provinces of Papua and West Irian Jaya.

The House Appropriations Committee has also requested from the State 
Department a report on the impact of U.S.-provided equipment and 
training on human rights violations since 2000 by the police, 
military and other security agencies and "any strategy linking United 
States military assistance to Indonesia to progress on human rights."

The Senate has yet to take up its version of the Foreign Operations 
Appropriations Bill. Before becoming law, any differences between the 
House and Senate bills must be reconciled.

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John M. Miller         Internet: etan at igc.org
National Coordinator

East Timor & Indonesia Action Network
PO Box 21873, Brooklyn, NY 11202-1873 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668      Mobile: (917)690-4391
Skype: john.m.miller  Web: http://www.etan.org

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