[ETAN-key] Forum: Indonesian Military Reformed? Hardly...

[John M Miller]

The Straits Times (Singapore)

Friday, September 12, 2008

ST Forum

Indonesian military reformed? Hardly...

Edmund McWilliams Retired Foreign Service Officer, US

MR JOHN McBeth's piece ('US policy on Indonesia outdated', Aug 9) 
misportrays concern in the United States Congress about the 
importance of basic standards for US assistance to the Indonesian 
military (TNI), especially for its notorious Special Forces 
(Kopassus). Contrary to his contention that this concern is limited 
to a few key legislators, concern with TNI violations of human rights 
and its impunity, corruption and resistance to civilian control is 
broadly shared and bipartisan.

While Mr McBeth's lack of familiarity with Washington's legislative 
process might be explained by his distance from those realities, his 
efforts to portray TNI as a reformed, or even reforming, institution 
are mystifying.

Despite remarkable democratic progress in Indonesian society as a 
whole, TNI remains a rogue institution. Its senior active-duty and 
retired officials remain immune from prosecution for egregious 
human-rights crimes and corruption. Individuals indicted for crimes 
against humanity by the United Nations-backed special crimes unit in 
Timor Leste, despite outstanding international warrants, remain free. 
Some have even been promoted.

Human-rights activists in West Papua and elsewhere who try to tell 
their stories to UN officials are threatened. A visiting member of 
the US Congress, accompanied by the US Ambassador, suffered severe 
restrictions that prevented him from meeting most Papuans, even 
Papuan officials. Progress towards dismantling TNI's massive business 
empire - which includes narcotics and human trafficking and shakedown 
operations run by TNI-backed militias, some involving Islamist 
radicals - is stymied by TNI resistance.

Congressional concern with all of this is justified and based on the 
facts. While Senator Patrick Leahy is a leader in shaping that 
consensus, efforts to target him and others as recalcitrant or 
isolated grossly underestimate congressional concern for, and 
awareness of, past and present realities in Indonesia. It also 
disserves Indonesia by diverting attention from the urgent need for 
reform and accountability within the military.


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              Joyo Indonesia News Service

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