The Other Aftershock

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• Reader Comments (4)

  Page 1 of 1 pages

  It is clear that the Indonesian military has used the tsunamni as a cover to further repress the people of Aceh and their aspirations to excercise their rigth to self-detrmination.

  It is also clear that the United States too, is using the tsunami as a cover to funnel monies and equipment to the TNI, that are otherwise restricted.

  Finally, it must be made clear that the Indonesian military is still the murderuos, genocidal machine that it has been for the last 42 years. And until their has been justice, not just for the 2 Americans who died in the 2002 Timika ambush, but also for the victims in East Timor, Aceh, and West Papua, then their should no normalizing of military to military relationship between the US and the Inodneisan government.

  Harold Green
  West Papua Action Network

  Posted by Harold Green on Feb 10, 2005 at 1:04 PM

  Policymakers in Washington say that normalizing military relations with Indonesia would have a positive effect, enlightening the TNI about human rights, transparency and so forth.  However, this is blatantly false.  What could the Indonesian military learn now that it didn’t learn during the 1970s and 80s when military ties were very open and the TNI was butchering the Timorese?  Normalizing military ties to inform the Indonesian military about human rights is just a despicable excuse to fill the coffers of the arms merchants while keeping happy what has long been one of the US’s chief client-states in Asia.  I hope Congressman Evans and many others continue to stand against this very brutal and inhumane idea of Mr. Wolfowitz’s.

  Posted by Michael Ziri on Feb 10, 2005 at 2:09 PM

  If the history of the Indonesian Army in East Timor a few years ago is any gauge, more people will be killed by a United States’ decision to renew military sales and aid to Indonesia than were killed in that country by the recent tsunami.

  Military sales and aid by the US amount to encouragement of the real politics of the recipient country, regardless of the rhetoric surrounding the reasons for the assistance.

  Posted by Larry Hurlock on Feb 13, 2005 at 9:10 PM

  Thank you, Tim for a great article. I’d like to post it on our website at www.westpapua.ca. Do I have your permission? (You can also post it yourself if you like.)

  On the Home Page there is an open petition that asks President Bush to support Congressman Faleomavaega’s February 17, 2005 call for the United States to support the struggle of the West Papuan people for freedom, for the United Nations and Indonesia to allow a genuine self-determination referendum in the spirit of the 1962 Indonesian Agreement (brokered by the United States).

  We will be launching a redesigned site and a petition to the U.N. any day now. Please encourage people to visit and sign the petition through www.westpapua.ca, as it contains an important caution.

  Posted by Tom Benedetti on Mar 9, 2005 at 9:41 PM

  Page 1 of 1 pages

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Also by Tim Shorrock

• The Other Aftershock
  The Bush administration seeks normalization of ties with Indonesia and its brutal military