Groups Condemn Bush Move to Restore Military Training for Indonesia

Senior Bush administration officials reportedly have decided to release funds for a controversial military training program for Indonesia for fiscal year 2003. Human rights groups and others concerned about the Indonesian military's poor human rights record today condemned the administration's plan to restore International Military Education and Training (IMET) and urged Congress to strongly protest the plan. The administration must first "consult" with Congress before obligating the money; these meetings have not yet taken place.

"For over three decades, the U.S. and Indonesian militaries were extremely close and we saw no move to reform," said Ed McWilliams, a former State Department official who served as political counselor in the U.S. Embassy in Indonesia from 1996-1999. "The Indonesian military's (TNI) worst abuses took place when we were most engaged."