During recent visit to Jakarta, U.S Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced that his country shall resume Military Assistance for the Indonesian Army's Special Forces (Kopasus).
The decision was made after Indonesia took steps requested by the U.S, including removal of alleged human rights violators from Kopasus.
The ban was imposed in 1998 after the U.S found that the Kopasus has been involved in several human rights abuse, i.e. kidnapping of opponents of former President Soeharto; and actions against separatist movements in East Timor, Aceh and Papua.
The US government's decision has been protested by human rights activists in the U.S and Indonesia, who claimed that some officers who were involved in the human right violations are still active in Kopasus.
Considering that the officers responsible for the human rights abuses, including retired Leut.Gen. Prabowo, have been dismissed from Kopasus, I felt that the decision of U.S government to revive military assistance to Kopasus is correct.
Related articles that I have quoted from Kompas :
- After Kopasus Released from U.S Military Embargo
- US Senator Regrets Ties with Kopasus
5 comments:
Probably you're right: let bygones be bygones.
Though we should also keep in mind that Prabowo may have retired but hasn't been put to trial - even is back in a prominent place in national politics ( and business). Moreover there are persistent and continuous rumours the special forces still bend the rules in their efforts to curb terrorism and separatism.
But then, the US special forces themselves have an appalling record of human rights abuses.
Colson,
We in Indonesia and those in the US do not want Kopasus to abuse human rights. And the best way to do that would be to monitor its moves. That can only be done if Kopasus is not isolated.
Re: counter terrorism here is now one by the police anti terror unit Densus-88 with the help of Kopasus and intelligent units.
In this case actually we adopted more moderate method compared to those use by countries like Iraq Pakistan, etc. Fortunately our efforts are more fruitful.
Most terror suspects here were tried in court, after release many of them repeated their activities. So we are facing a dilemma.
somebody told me that is very hard to get the visa permanently for indonesia
WorldMedTourism,
Not really difficult to get as business visa provided that there is a sponsor here.
Post a Comment