[Marinir] Donald Rumsfeld: Hubungan dengan Militer Indonesia Harus Diperbaiki

[Yap Hong Gie]

http://www.suarapembaruan.com/News/2006/03/10/index.html

SUARA PEMBARUAN DAILY
Last modified: 10/3/06
Donald Rumsfeld: Hubungan dengan Militer Indonesia Harus Diperbaiki

WASHINGTON - Menteri Pertahanan Amerika Serikat (AS) Donald Rumsfeld 
mengatakan, Amerika telah kehilangan "satu generasi" hubungan dengan militer 
Indonesia dan Pakistan, akibat sanksi yang dijatuhkan Washington terhadap 
dua negara itu selama bertahun-tahun.

"Mengacu pengalaman tersebut, penting sekali bagi AS untuk tidak memperumit 
upaya-upaya membangun hubungan yang bermanfaat dengan bangsa-bangsa yang 
dapat membantu memperkuat pertahanan kita", ujar Rumsfeld, Kamis (9/3).

Sebagian besar kerja sama militer AS dengan Pakistan telah dihentikan 
sepanjang 1980-an karena program nuklir negara itu. Sedangkan sanksi 
terhadap Indonesia dijatuhkan karena pelanggaran HAM oleh TNI di Timor 
Timur.
"Akibatnya, persahabatan, kontak, hubungan, dan saling pemahaman antara 
militer AS dan militer dua negara tersebut jadi hilang," katanya.

Menurut dia, militer AS harus memperbaharui hubungan dengan dua negara 
mayoritas berpenduduk Muslim tersebut, walau ia mengaku memahami alasan 
mengapa sanksi dijatuhkan kepada dua negara itu.

"Namun, saya pikir ada hal yang harus kita pikirkan secara hati-hati. 
Karena, akibat dilakukannya tindakan tersebut, AS justru dipandang lebih 
rendah, ketimbang dilihat sebagai negara yang dapat benar-benar dipercaya," 
ungkap Rumsfeld.
 (AP/E-9)

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http://www.theage.com.au/news/World/Rumsfeld-calls-for-new-Indonesian-ties/2006/03/10/1141701678259.html

Rumsfeld calls for new Indonesian ties
March 10, 2006 - 2:40PM

The United States has "lost a generation of relationships" with the 
Indonesian military because of years of sanctions imposed over human rights 
abuses, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.
Also America's top military commander in the Pacific has asked Congress for 
more military aid for Indonesia, a crucial ally in Washington's fight 
against terrorism.

After the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington, Rumsfeld said, 
the US military had to renew ties with Indonesia, the world's most populous 
Muslim nation, "almost from scratch".
The same went for Pakistan, he told the US House of Representatives' Armed 
Services Committee.
He said the United States should "not complicate efforts to build useful 
relationships with nations that can aid in our defence".

Rumsfeld said he understands the reason for the sanctions. But, he added, "I 
think it's something that we need to think very carefully (about), because 
as a result of some of those actions the United States is looked at as a 
less than perfectly reliable friend and ally."

Separately, Admiral William Fallon told the committee that the $US1 million 
($A1.4 million) in aid allocated this year to Indonesia will be used to 
improve security in vital waterways, such as the Malacca Straits, which is 
one of the world's busiest sea lanes.

Fallon testified that Indonesia has emerged as a democracy after more than 
three decades of military dictatorship.
But, he added, "They need some help. We have a lot of capacity to do that."
This year marks the first instalment in US military aid since Washington 
decided in November to lift a six-year embargo on military aid imposed after 
Indonesian troops ravaged East Timor during the territory's break from 
Indonesia.

The administration of President George W Bush argued that continuing to 
isolate Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim state, would have been a 
strategic mistake.
Indonesia, with a secular political tradition, is regarded by Washington as 
a possible model of moderation within the Islamic world.

Human rights groups have strongly protested the Indonesian aid program, 
however, saying it supports a military that killed hundreds of thousands in 
East Timor and in Papua province.
Fallon said in a prepared statement that to keep Indonesia a strong partner: 
"We endorse a rapid, concerted infusion of assistance."

He said US money would help continuing military changes, improve Indonesian 
forces' ability to battle terrorists and keep maritime trade routes safe. 
America, he said, also would monitor closely and strengthen Indonesia's 
support for human rights.

The US State Department issued a report that detailed continuing human 
rights abuse allegations by the Indonesian military in regions including 
Papua.
© 2006 AAP