23 Sep 2005

NGOs write to US congress urging restrictions on military assistance to Indonesia

1:28 pm on 23 September 2005

48 human rights, faith-based, arms control and peace groups have written to members of the US Congress to urge continued restriction of military assistance to Indonesia.

The groups say Congress must be consistent towards the Indonesian military as leverage for reform within the armed forces and their operations in Papua province and elsewhere.

The letter has been sent to members of the House-Senate conference committee which will finalize the 2006 foreign operations appropriations bill.

The groups urge the committee to adopt the more stringent provisions in the Senate version of the bill pertaining to Indonesia, which would continue restrictions on weapon sales until conditions on human rights, justice and military budget transparency are met.