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“UNITED STATES-INDONESIAN RELATIONS” mentioning the U.S. Dept of State was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E224-E225 on Feb. 12, 1997.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
UNITED STATES-INDONESIAN RELATIONS
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HON. LEE H. HAMILTON
of indiana
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, February 12, 1997
Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask permission to include in the Record an exchange of letters with the State Department regarding United States relations with Indonesia.
Mr. Speaker, Indonesia, which is the world's fourth largest country in terms of population, will almost certainly play an important role in Asia in the 21st century. An effective American presence in Asia will be far more likely if our relations with Indonesia are on a sound footing. Unfortunately, there are a number of issues--most notably, East Timor, human rights, and labor rights--that at present limit our ability to develop strong across-the-board ties with Indonesia.
Given the actual, and even more the potential, importance of this bilateral relationship, I encourage my colleagues to read the enclosed exchange of letters.
Committee on International Relations,
House of Representatives,
Washington, DC, November 20, 1996.Hon. Warren M. Christopher,Secretary of State,Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Secretary: I write in order to share with you some of my thoughts on the U.S. relationship with Indonesia.
I believe it is very much in the U.S. interest to have a fundamentally sound relationship with Indonesia. Unfortunately, I fear that we are reaching a point where it may be impossible to sustain political support in the Congress for such a relationship. Certainly a repetition of the events associated with the Jakarta riot last July, and the government's subsequent crackdown on its critics, would undermine congressional support for solid relations with Indonesia.
For this reason, I would urge you and other senior administration officials to make certain that President Suharto understands that the maintenance of a cordial U.S.-Indonesian relationship depends upon the avoidance of any further upheavals in either East Timor or the rest of Indonesia.
Given the importance of the East Timor issue to many Members of Congress, you might suggest specific steps Jakarta could take to ease tensions in East Timor and assuage congressional concern in Washington. Reducing the number of Indonesian troops and police in East Timor would be an invaluable first step. In addition, you might encourage the Indonesian government to:
Continue and accelerate Indonesia's dialogue with Portugal regarding East Timor.
Recognize the importance of bringing the East Timorese themselves into a dialogue regarding the future of the province.
Grant increased access by international human rights organizations to all areas of Indonesia, including East Timor.
Provide for a full accounting for those who have been killed or ``disappeared'' in recent years.
Ensure that if the security forces do commit abuses, punishments are carried out in a manner that will act as a deterrent to future abuses.
Finally, Mr. Secretary, I would urge you and your colleagues in the administration to pay particular attention in the coming months to the need for informing Members of Congress of the many ways in which a constructive relationship with Indonesia serves U.S. interests. Many Members of Congress think of Indonesia almost exclusively in terms of either East Timor or worker rights issues. Certainly these are important issues, but they are not the only issues which ought to drive U.S. policy toward what is, after all, the world's fourth largest state. I would urge the administration to give a higher priority to the need for articulating the case for a cooperative relationship between the United States and Indonesia.
I believe that the President's reelection two weeks ago gives us a crucial opportunity to lay the groundwork for an effective American presence in Asia well into the 21st century. Indonesia will almost certainly play a leading role in Asia in the years to come, and I look forward to working closely with the administration over the next four years to strengthen our ties with this important country.
With best regards,
Sincerely,
Lee H. Hamilton,Ranking Democratic Member.
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U.S. Department of State,
Washington, DC, January 30, 1997.
Dear Mr. Hamilton: Thank your for your letter of November 20 in which you commented on the U.S.-Indonesia relationship.
We appreciate your thoughtful comments. We share your concerns, both about human rights violations in Indonesia and the continued tension in East Timor, and the problems these issues could pose as we work to preserve Congressional support for a relationship that has contributed so much to the stability of the Southeast Asia region and has proven so beneficial to U.S. security and economic interests.
Indonesia is entering a protracted period of political transition that will determine the country's future in the post-Soeharto period. The widespread arrests of political dissidents that occurred in the aftermath of the July 27 riots in Jakarta are particularly troubling. Although it is the Indonesian people and government who ultimately will shape their nation's future, we believe we can and should help encourage the development of civil society in Indonesia. To this end, we have worked to promote a greater respect for human rights and democratic principles of governance.
We concur with your view that we must ensure as well that the Indonesian Government understands that sound U.S.-Indonesia relations depend on improvements in the human rights situation and progress toward resolution of the East Timor question. Secretary Albright, Acting Assistant Secretary Kartman, and Ambassador Roy have and will continue to underscore at every opportunity that our bilateral relationship is important but cannot reach its full potential until Indonesia's human rights performance improves.
With regard to East Timor, we strongly support the ongoing UN-sponsored talks between Indonesia and Portugal and the intro-Timorese discussions. We have consistently urged the Indonesian Government to implement tension reduction measures and will continue to do so, drawing on the excellent advice include in your letter. These initiatives as well as a growing realization that the world is watching seem to have had a positive effect in East Timor, as the Indonesian authorities recently have maintained considerable restraint in the face of large demonstrations in support of Bishop Belo.
Recently, the Indonesian military has taken steps to try to correct its human rights shortcomings. Abuses by troops, for example, have been followed up by courts martial and in some cases by prison sentences. Furthermore, in some instances the military honor boards have been headed by graduates of U.S. International Military Education and Training (IMET) programs. These same officers also have helped incorporate human rights materials in Indonesian military training courses and, in the province Irian Jaya, have been responsible for issuing new rules of engagement manuals that include human rights principles.
Your suggestion that we should continue to pay special attention to informing Members of Congress of the benefits the U.S. derives from our relationship with Indonesia is well-taken. In this regard, we have and will continue to press the Indonesian government to authorize Congressional travel to East Timor so that members can assess first-hand the human rights situation and economic development there.
Although the Administration is strongly committed to advancing the cause of human rights in Indonesia, we must also craft our initiatives in a balanced manner that preserves and promotes the cooperative relationship from which both countries derive important benefits. To accomplish this and to enhance our limited influence on internal developments in Indonesia, we will have to approach the Indonesian first as a friend--a nation which recognizes their contributions and can, therefore, speak frankly about what further progress is needed to allow the relationship to reach its full potential.
We greatly value your counsel on the challenges we face and look forward to working with you to pursue a course that advances the full range of interests that characterize our bilateral relationship with Indonesia.
Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Barbara Larkin,Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs.
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