DATE=9/19/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-S / INDONESIA (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-266764
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: U-S Defense Secretary William Cohen says he is
concerned about the lack of civilian control over the
military in Indonesia. As V-O-A Southeast Asia
Correspondent Gary Thomas reports, Mr. Cohen says the way
to demonstrate that control is for the military to disarm
the militias terrorizing Indonesian-controlled West Timor.
TEXT: Defense Secretary Cohen says the lack of Indonesian
government action in curbing the militias in West Timor
shows there is a problem with civil control over the
military.
Speaking in Bangkok Tuesday after his visit to Jakarta, Mr.
Cohen says he raised the issue in his talks with Indonesian
President Abdurrahman Wahid and Vice-President Megawati
Sukarnoputri.
/// COHEN ACT ///
I have had discussions with President Wahid. I spoke
yesterday with Vice President Megawati, and made it clear
that one way to demonstrate, of course, the kind of control
that is important to establish civilian control over the
military is to take the steps necessary to dismantle,
disband, disarm, the militia operating out of West Timor,
and to bring to the bars of justice so there can be
accountability for those abuses that have taken place in
the past.
/// END ACT ///
Elements of the military are accused of arming and training
the Timor militias. The militia groups went on a rampage
after East Timor voted for independence last year, and
continue to terrorize refugees in Indonesian-controlled
West Timor. Three aid workers were recently killed by
militias there.
Mr. Cohen says the international community was, as he put
it, "seriously upset" with the incident and Indonesia's
failure to act. He says the government has the ability to
bring the situation under control. The only question, he
says, is whether it is willing to do so.
/// COHEN ACT TWO ///
Obviously Indonesia is facing a number of challenges, and
they have to measure up to those challenges in the near
future. But it remains to be seen whether they are willing
and able. I believe they are able. The question is, do
they have the will to do this? And we will have to see
whether that will is present.
/// END ACT ///
The military once played a dominant role in Indonesian
politics. Indonesia's first two leaders, Presidents
Sukarno and Suharto, were both generals. The military's
enhanced status was enshrined in the doctrine known as
"dwifungsi," or "dual function," in which the military had
a political as well as military role.
But Mr. Suharto was forced from office in 1998. A new
civilian government has whittled away at the military's
political role and is preparing to charge officers with
human rights abuses.
Analysts say the military greatly resents its reduced
political role and is resisting civilian control. A report
earlier this month by the International Crisis Group, a
Brussels-based research organization, says military
officers continue to engage in activities that undermine
the government, especially in trouble spots such as West
Timor, Aceh, and the Malaku Islands. (signed)
NEB/HK/GPT/JO
19-Sep-2000 05:21 AM LOC (19-Sep-2000 0921 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
