National interests and mil-to-mil relations with Indonesia - JFQ Forum - military relations

Joint Force Quarterly, Autumn, 2002 by John B. Haseman

The administration has provided $4 million (out of a total of $17 million) in fellowships for counterterrorism training and education. These funds have been approved by Congress and are not subject to Leahy amendment restrictions. The first five participants will attend a 15-month course at the Naval Postgraduate School. The training fits the challenging domestic security environment faced by Indonesia, which includes separatist movements in Aceh and Irian Jaya and a profusion of religious and ethnic conflicts across the archipelago. The proposed legislation would make up to $400,000 available for IMET participation. This will be the first time since 1999 that Indonesia is receiving funds for this program.

Washington apparently hopes that a major assistance program for the Indonesian police and the possibility of a similar program for the armed forces, together with resumption of international education and training and counterterrorism fellowships, a lowered barrier in budget reforms, and accountability for past human rights abuses, will encourage the military to continue reforms. Then the two countries can normalize military-to-military relations including arms sales. The Indonesian navy and air force are in a very precarious state because of an inability to procure spare parts.

It remains to be seen whether human rights trials can meet congressional requirements and a more transparent TNI budget system can be implemented. But repairing the military-to-military relationship between the United States and Indonesia sooner rather than later will serve the interests of both countries.

NOTE

(1) Beginning in the 1960s, the armed forces were called Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia (ABRI). After the downfall of Soeharto, the national police were removed and the military was symbolically renamed Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI). Both abbreviations are used here depending on the period.

Colonel John B. Haseman, USA (Ret.), is a consultant on Southeast Asian affairs and has served as military and later defense attache in Jakarta.