Indonesia: Secretary Rice’s Decision to Certify International Military Education and Training

Indonesia: Secretary Rice’s Decision to Certify International Military Education and Training

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has determined that Indonesia has satisfied legislative conditions for restarting its full International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.

Current restrictions on the IMET program were in put in place by the Administration, and subsequently legislated by Congress, due to insufficient cooperation by the Indonesian military in investigating the August 2002 murders of two American citizens and one Indonesian citizen in Papua province. Secretary Rice has determined that the Government and the Armed Forces of Indonesia (TNI) have cooperated with the FBI’s investigation into
these murders and continue to do so, and thus have fulfilled the requirements articulated in the legislation to allow for resumption of the full International Military Education and Training Program.

Indonesian cooperation has resulted in the indictment of Anthonius Wamang, an Indonesian citizen and member of a Papuan separatist group, on charges of murder, attempted murder, causing serious bodily injury and illegal firearms. The U.S. – Indonesia joint investigation by the FBI and Indonesian National Police continues.

Indonesia has not participated in the full International Military Education and Training program since 1992, when restrictions were first imposed in response to the massacre of civilian protestors in Dili, East Timor. Restrictions were maintained after Indonesian security forces and their militia devastated East Timor in the wake of the August 1999
UN – sponsored independence referendum, and since then were tied to cooperation in the investigation of the Timika murders.

The Department expects that Indonesia’s resumption of full International Military Education and training will strengthen its ongoing democratic progress and advance cooperation in other areas of mutual concern.

2005/247 Released on February 26, 2005 Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC