http://www.thejakartapost.com/detaillgen.asp?fileid=20060520161943&irec=0
U.S. lawmakers propose dropping restrictions on RI military aid WASHINGTON (AP): A congressional panel that funds foreign operations has proposed dropping restrictions on aid to Indonesia's military, with the panel's Republican leader saying it was time to recognize the country's dramatic democratic turnaround. A Democratic lawmaker, however, expressed disappointment that the House appropriations subcommittee on foreign operations would lift restrictions. Under current law, the U.S. Secretary of State must certify that the Indonesian government has addressed U.S. worry about human rights abuse in the military and other concerns before aid is granted. Last year, U.S. officials waived the restrictions,citing a part of the law that allowed a waiver for national security reasons. The subcommittee has proposed providing US$2 million (euro1.5 million) less than the $6.5 million (euro5 million) President George W. Bush had requested to help Indonesia's military with transportation, counterterrorism and maritime security; lawmakers proposed $1.28 million (euro1 million) in funds for military training. The request is an early stage in a lengthy legislative process. An overall bill must eventually be approved by bothchambers of Congress and signed by Bush. The Indonesia proposal is part of a $21.3 billion (euro16.6 billion) measure that would pay for foreign assistance programs for the budget year that begins Oct. 1. Overall, the measure is $2.4 billion (euro1.8 billion) less than the $23.7 billion (euro18.5 billion) the administration wanted. The United States cut all military ties with Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, in 1999 to protest alleged human rights abuses by Indonesian troops in East Timor. The ban was lifted in November by the Bush administration, which viewsthe Indonesian government as a bulwark against Islamic militancy. "The Congress needs to understand that things change," Rep. Jim Kolbe, chairman of the subcommittee, said Friday. "And there are few countries in the world where things have changed as much as Indonesia in the last five, six, seven years." (**) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Everything you need is one click away. Make Yahoo! your home page now. http://us.click.yahoo.com/AHchtC/4FxNAA/yQLSAA/uTGrlB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
