Comments: No justice, no aid to Kopassus!

June 6, p. 4: One month before President Obama’s planned June 14 visit to Indonesia, members of the US Congress raised questions about his administration’s apparent plans to restore aid to Kopassus, the Indonesian Army’s Special Forces. In a May 13 letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Minister Robert Gates, legislators from both parties urged an end to impunity and requested clarity on what was being asked of Indonesia in exchange for full military ties. Congress is right to raise these questions, but they do not go far enough. The problem of human rights violations by the Indonesian military is not just about Kopassus, and it cannot be solved just by vetting individual soldiers. (Usman Hamid)

Regaining trust: Members of the Army’s Special Forces (Kopassus) march during the 55th anniversary of the elite unit at its headquarters in Cijantung, East Jakarta. The US government is considering resuming military cooperation, including with the Kopassus. JP/J. Adiguna

Your comments:

There is no such thing as a pure “aid”, especially military aid. What are the conditions that the United States are imposing on the receiving country — which are too embarrassing to be leaked out to the recipient country’s citizens?
Aid is just another form of imposing US influence on the recipient. An extension of US foreign policy. Often linked with CIA covert operations.
In case of military aid to Indonesia, too many officers trained in Fort Levenworth has become US spies in Indonesia. Soeharto had first-hand experience of this.
Go to hell US foreign policy! You have been the devil in this world ever since World War II.
David Kowasky
Jakarta

Restrictions on US military assistance to Indonesia provide leverage to support democracy and human rights in Indonesia.
Working with Kopassus, which has a long history of terrorizing civilians, will undermine those fighting for justice and accountability in Indonesia and East Timor.
Oppose US training for Kopassus by signing the petition —  http://www.gopetition.com/online/29600.html
John Brooklyn
New York