The U.S and Kopasus

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