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DATE=5/23/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-232695
TITLE=INDONESIA TORTURE
BYLINE=JIM RANDLE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO: U-S DEFENSE OFFICIALS REFUSE TO CONFIRM A PUBLISHED REPORT
BLAMING A U-S TRAINED INDONESIAN MILITARY UNIT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS 
ABUSES.  THE REPORT SAYS U-S OFFICIALS ACCUSE THE UNIT OF 
KIDNAPPING AND TORTURE -- ALLEGATIONS THAT COULD FORMALLY END U-S
TIES TO THE INDONESIAN ELITE UNIT.  V-O-A'S JIM RANDLE REPORTS, 
THE "KOPASSUS" TROOPS WERE INVOLVED IN FREQUENT TRAINING 
EXERCISES WITH U-S FORCES  --  UNTIL RECENTLY.
TEXT:  THE KOPASSUS UNIT IS ACCUSED OF KIDNAPPING AND TORTURING 
INDONESIAN POLITICAL DISSIDENTS.  ALL CONTACTS BETWEEN THE U-S 
AND INDONESIAN MILITARIES WERE SUSPENDED RECENTLY DUE TO STRIFE 
IN INDONESIA.
THE LEADER OF THE KOPASSUS UNIT IS QUOTED AS DENYING THE ALLEGED 
ABDUCTIONS.  U-S OFFICERS SAY THE RECENTLY CANCELLED JOINT 
TRAINING WOULD HAVE HAD U-S SOLDIERS TEACHING PARACHUTE JUMPING 
AND LEARNING INDONESIAN LANGUAGE AND OTHER SKILLS. 
CRITICS OF THE INDONESIAN TRAINING PROGRAM SAY IT SENDS A 
MISGUIDED MESSAGE OF SUPPORT FOR UNSAVORY ACTIVITIES.  U-S 
MILITARY OFFICERS SAY HUMAN RIGHTS TRAINING IS A PART OF THE 
CURRICULUM, AND ARGUE THE MORE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING SOLDIERS 
RECEIVE, THE LESS LIKELY THEY ARE TO MISTREAT CIVILIANS.
                    /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
HIGH RANKING U-S MILITARY OFFICIALS OBSERVED KOPASSUS TROOPS 
DURING A VISIT LAST JANUARY, AND SAID THEY CAME AWAY DEEPLY 
IMPRESSED WITH THEIR MARTIAL ARTS AND JUNGLE WARFARE SKILLS.  
IF THE PUBLISHED REPORT TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE, IT IS LIKELY TO 
STRENGTHEN CONGRESSIONAL CRITICS OF INDONESIA, WHO ARE CALLING  
FOR THE FORMAL END OF ALL U-S MILITARY CONTACT WITH INDONESIAN 
FORCES.  CONGRESSIONAL CRITICS ARE ALSO DEMANDING AN END TO U-S 
SALES OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT TO INDONESIA.  CURRENTLY, SUCH SALES 
AMOUNT TO  ABOUT FIVE MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR, MOSTLY FOR 
"NON-LETHAL" ITEMS LIKE JEEPS AND TRUCKS. (SIGNED).  
NEB/JR/TMD/JO
23-May-98 12:33 PM EDT (1633 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.