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Cohen to warn Indonesian president over militias
US Defence Secretary William Cohen is due to meet Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday to deliver a stern warning over Jakarta`s failure to rein in militias who killed three foreign UN aid workers.
US Defence Secretary William Cohen is due to meet Indonesian President Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday to deliver a stern warning over Jakarta's failure to rein in militias who killed three foreign UN aid workers.
The United States, which maintains close military relations with
most of East Asia, cut off military-to-military ties with Indonesia
last year after the militias, backed by Indonesia's military, razed
East Timor following its vote for independence that ended Jakarta's
tough military rule.
This year, Washington has made some tentative overtures to Jakarta such as providing some medical training and allowing Indonesian officers to observe annual ''cobra gold'' joint military exercises involving the United States and Thailand. But, under orders from an angry US Congress, the Pentagon cannot resume ties until Jakarta brings its armed forces under firm civilian control and complies with UN resolutions on East Timor, including allowing East Timorese refugees to go home.
More than 120,000 refugees remain in camps in West Timor, providing safe havens from where the militias, little more than criminal gangs, operate in West Timor and UN-ruled East Timor. Cohen, who on Sunday said that Wahid's government faced a choice between cooperation with The United Nations and isolation from the world, has stressed during a six-nation Asia trip Washington wants nothing more than to see democracy flower in this mainly Muslim country, the world's fourth most populous nation.
This year, Washington has made some tentative overtures to Jakarta such as providing some medical training and allowing Indonesian officers to observe annual ''cobra gold'' joint military exercises involving the United States and Thailand. But, under orders from an angry US Congress, the Pentagon cannot resume ties until Jakarta brings its armed forces under firm civilian control and complies with UN resolutions on East Timor, including allowing East Timorese refugees to go home.
More than 120,000 refugees remain in camps in West Timor, providing safe havens from where the militias, little more than criminal gangs, operate in West Timor and UN-ruled East Timor. Cohen, who on Sunday said that Wahid's government faced a choice between cooperation with The United Nations and isolation from the world, has stressed during a six-nation Asia trip Washington wants nothing more than to see democracy flower in this mainly Muslim country, the world's fourth most populous nation.
Bureau Report