The Age [Australia], February 22 2003
Indonesians seek aid to train police
By Marian Wilkinson
United States Correspondent Washington
The police chief who led the Bali bombing investigation has pleaded for training
assistance from the US for a controversial Indonesian police unit accused of human
rights abuses in Aceh and other Indonesian trouble spots.
Speaking to diplomats and officials in Washington, General I Made Pastika argued
that the notorious Indonesian police mobile brigade, known as Brimob, should be
supported as part of the fight against terrorism.
Brimob has been accused of being implicated in killings, beatings and torture in Aceh
and elsewhere in Indonesia by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
"Unfortunately there is an issue here in the United States that assistance should not
go to the Brimob because they are being blamed for some human rights violations in
Aceh," General Pastika said. "That is a dilemma."
But he argued that poor training was one of the key problems.
"These units, let's say, violate human rights because (of) the lack of training," he told
the seminar put on by the US-Indonesia Society.
General Pastika's reputation in Washington has soared following the Bali bombings.
He was invited to meet senior Government officials including Vice-President Dick
Cheney, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, and Deputy Secretary of State
Richard Armitage.
The meetings covered the Bali investigation and the war on terrorism.
More difficult issues, such as the killing of two Americans at the Freeport mine in
Papua and visa restrictions on Indonesians travelling to the US, were also expected to
be on the agenda.
But Human Rights Watch advocate Mike Jendrzejczyk, at General Pastika's talk,
said he was amazed the general would make any attempt to argue that anti-terrorism
funds could be used for the controversial police unit.
"The Brimob has a highly abusive human rights tracks record and Congress and the
Administration are right to withhold any assistance for them," Mr Jendrzejczyk said.
"I was surprised he was making such a public pitch," he said.
General Pastika was also asked about recent media reports that the violent Islamic
militia, Laskar Jihad, which had allegedly disbanded after the Bali bombing, had been
working in Papua with Indonesian army special forces.
The police chief said there was no evidence of such co-operation "up to now", but
investigations into the claims were continuing.
He said it was unfortunate that an Indonesian judge had recently acquitted the head of
Laskar Jihad on charges of provoking violence and spreading hatred against the
Government, and believed the prosecutor planned to appeal.
Throughout his talk General Pastika pleaded for aid to Indonesia's police force, saying
the country was in crisis.
Copyright © 2002 The Age Company Ltd
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