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Indonesia Asks US To Lift Arms Embargo
18 Sep 2000 16:40:44 WIB
TEMPO Interaktif, Jakarta:President Abdurrahman Wahid, on behalf of the
Indonesian government, submitted a formal request to the United States
government for the immediate lifting of the arms embargo imposed on
Indonesia. The Minister of Defense, Prof. Mahfud MD, spoke to the press
following a meeting with the President and the United States Defense
Secretary, William Cohen, at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta today, September
18.
The United States government has imposed an arms embargo on Indonesia since
the late August 1999 East Timor independence ballot. The Americans accused
the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the pro-integration militias of weapons
misuse.
Gus Dur promised Secretary of Defense Cohen that Indonesia would handle the
Atambua problems immediately. The Indonesian government has offered two
options to the East Timorese refugees: repatriation and resettlement.
Refugees who want to return to East Timor would receive security
guarantees. Those choosing Indonesian citizenship would be placed in a
transmigration site by the government. “But they [refugees who choose
Indonesian citizenship] must give their commitment and support to regional
integrity,” Mahfud said.
According to Mahfud, the Americans want to see an Indonesian government
proposal for the handling of the Atambua tragedy. “We can’t continue
discussions without concrete measures for settling this problem,” Cohen
said, according to Mahfud. However, Indonesian government requested more
time to investigate the East Timor and Atambua incidents.
“They shouldn’t forget. In the Vietcong case, the government needed 10
years to disarm its militias,” Mahfud reminded. Therefore, Indonesia also
demands patience from the United States and the international community in
this matter. Gus Dur also assured Secretary of Defense Cohen that
Indonesia would implement every provision of the United Nations Security
Council (UNSC) resolution. Indonesia, he said firmly, would not play games.
Regarding his allegations of Australian involvement in the Atambua
incident, Mahfud clarified that he based his analysis on discussions with
the House (DPR) Commission A. However, he admitted that the Indonesias
have no legal proof that would verify Australian involvement.
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