American Security Policy and U.S.-Indonesian Relations

By Ambassador Ralph L. Boyce

December 17, 2002

Ambassador Soemadi, Dr. Soedjati, Dr. Dino Djalal, distinguished diplomats, faculty and students of the University of Indonesia, ladies and gentlemen.

In addressing the policy aspects of the United States response to the terror attacks of September 11 and October 12 and their implications for the U.S.-Indonesia relationship, I believe it is important to first explain a bit of background. Indonesia and the United States are two very populous, expansive, open, and yet in some ways insular nations. Before September 11, 2001, most Americans spent most of their time thinking about what goes on in America - their jobs, their families, or the quality of the local school.

The average American might have remembered that terrorists had attacked two American embassies in east Africa, bombed the USS Cole, and tried to car bomb the World Trade Center in 1993, but for most people that knowledge did not translate into a conviction that terrorism represented a fundamental threat to our nation. On the morning of September 11 that all changed. It quickly became clear that the cataclysmic murder of thousands of innocent men, women and children was conceived by a merciless foe that must be dealt with before any of the other pressing issues of the nation could be resolved.

In Indonesia people were sorting out their own priorities in September 2001. Having suffered through a terrible financial crisis in 1997-98, brought down a three-decades-old dictatorship, witnessed the violent separation of East Timor from Indonesia, elected one president and replaced him through a transparent, constitutional process, Indonesians understandably looked forward to a period of stability, reconciliation and economic growth.

Like Americans, Indonesians had suffered from the brutal effects of terrorism, the Christmas 2000 bombings, the Jakarta Stock Exchange, the Plaza Atrium, and numerous terror strikes in Maluku and Central Sulawesi. And like most Americans, Indonesians were focused on dealing with the many day-to-day problems that they faced. Dealing with terrorism was a priority for the Megawati administration prior to September 11 but it was one of many concerns that fought for attention.

The Effect of the Bali Bombing

The horror of the October 12 Bali bombing changed all of that for Indonesians and their government. One result of those two tragic attacks was to harmonize the sense of urgency in dealing with international terrorism between the United States and Indonesia. Since that time, the Indonesian government has demonstrated remarkable commitment and ability arresting over 20 suspects in connection with the Bali bombing and finding links to numerous past terrorist incidents.

Of course, even before Bali, Indonesia showed a strong commitment to the international rule of law and supported firm action against international terrorism from the outset. It is worth remembering that Presidents Bush and Megawati met at the White House on September 19, 2001, to reaffirm the strength of our bilateral relationship. The leaders of the third and fourth largest democratic nations in the world pledged to cooperate in combating terrorism as well as other transnational crimes, such as trafficking in persons, piracy, and narcotics smuggling as well as in promoting economic reform, human rights and the rule of law.

What is different now is that the Indonesian government and people are now fully engaged in fighting terrorism at all levels and rooting out the terrorist network in Indonesia and severing its links to other nations in the region. Though progress has been remarkable thus far, this must be a sustained effort, if it is to remove the still dangerous threat of terrorism in Indonesia and wider Southeast Asia.

U.S. Interests

Just as before the attacks, the United States still has multiple interests and priorities. It would be a serious mistake to believe that the United States has abandoned the democratic values and commitment to international cooperation that it holds so dearly. As Secretary of State Colin Powell has said, “our goal will be reached when Americans and our friends around the world can lead their lives free of fear from terrorist attacks. We can not, we will not, let the need to fight this war make us [a] different a society.” The American people have reaffirmed their commitment to our democratic values, worked to build a global coalition to fight terror, and become more not less committed to pursuing multilateral approach to global problems.

Since September 11, both countries have cooperated across a wide range of issues. Indonesia and the United States cooperated in diplomatic, law enforcement, financial, and intelligence matters to capture terrorists, deny them safe-haven, cutoff their access to money, and promote international law.

We also worked closely with Indonesia in other security related areas. The U.S. worked to promote a resolution to the conflict in Aceh, co-sponsoring a Conference on Peace and Reconstruction in Aceh on December 3, 2002 in Tokyo to encourage dialogue between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), as facilitated by the Center for Humanitarian Dialogue (HDC). The conference provided an opportunity for participants to discuss ways they might contribute to the social and physical reconstruction of Aceh. I have no doubt that the conference contributed to the parties’ decision to agree to a cessation of hostilities.

U.S. Diplomacy

The United States has worked with its friends and allies around the world to build an international coalition of more than 90 countries representing peoples of every race, religion, and culture in the Global War on Terrorism. President Bush and Secretary of State Powell have worked tirelessly to bring multilateral organizations from every region of the globe into the war against terrorism. In this region, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC) have all begun intensive efforts to combat terrorism and other transnational crime more effectively.

Indonesia has played an integral role in that process co-hosting a meeting of over 50 nations and 16 international organizations to combat trafficking in persons, people smuggling, and transnational crime in February. Even as we meet today, officials from around the region, as well as the United States, are gathered in Bali to build cooperation to combat terrorist financing and money laundering. This is an important area, where the international community has made vital progress. Since September 11, 2001, 167 countries have blocked terrorist assets, $113.5 million in terrorist assets have been frozen worldwide in over 500 accounts.

Dealing with terrorist groups, the United States and Indonesia joined more than 50 nations in designating Jemaah Islamiyah as a terrorist organization to the United Nations Security Council Joint Sanctions Committee-the largest number of co-sponsoring nations ever.

In recognition that human rights, economic growth and robust democracy are vital American interests in their own right President Bush created the Enterprise for ASEAN Initiative (EAI) which holds out the prospect of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) between ASEAN countries that are committed to openness and free trade. The EAI will bring increased trade and economic growth to ASEAN member states and improve investment links with the United States and also help end the poverty and alienation that nurtures terrorism.

Global Threats: The Case of Iraq

As a measure of our commitment to both addressing global threats to peace and security and doing so through the international system, on September 12, President Bush challenged the United Nations to deal with the threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction and decade long defiance of Security Council resolutions. Many in the international community presumed that the United States would act alone to disarm Iraq, which we would be well within our rights in doing under the UN Charter and UNSC resolutions. Instead, we built a strong international consensus for a new UNSC resolution, 1441, which passed 15-0, that makes clear that Iraq is in material breach of its obligations and gives Iraq one final chance to comply.

Military to Military Relations

In a significant breakthrough, Presidents Bush and Megawati agreed to a modest expansion of military to military ties in order to promote reform in the Indonesian military (TNI) in September 2001. Since then, are two countries met in our first ever Strategic Defense Dialogue to review strategy, regional perspectives, global threats, as well as budgeting and reform issues. Indonesian Ministry of Defense officials, civilian defense experts, and uniformed military have attended conferences, seminars, and educational programs in the United States and with regional partners. Of course, we have important military relationships with many countries in Asia. My country stands ready to come to the aid of those friends who seek it, as we did in the Philippines recently, but the United States has no plans or need to expand its permanent military presence in Southeast Asia.

President Bush agreed to resume non-lethal military sales to Indonesia and requested a restoration of full International Military Education and Training (IMET) for Indonesia for our next budget cycle-that request is currently before the U.S. Congress. However, full restoration of military ties and Foreign Military Financing depends on Indonesia demonstrating progress toward holding those responsible for past gross human rights violations accountable for their actions-something that has not yet happened. We stand ready to move forward in this area but cannot do so until there is justice for the serious human rights violations committed in East Timor and elsewhere.

The Way Forward

The United States is committed to building a safer, more democratic, and more prosperous world. In the words of Fareed Zakaria, Editor of Newsweek International whom I hosted for a Buka Puasa here in Jakarta a few weeks ago, “America remains the universal nation, the country people across the world believe should speak for universal values . . .The belief that America is different is its ultimate source of strength.”

As one of the largest democracies in the world, the most populous majority Muslim country, and a vigorous partner in combating terrorism and transnational crime, Indonesia can help to secure a safe and prosperous future for its people. Indonesia, its ASEAN partners, and the broader international community have made major strides in addressing security threats in Southeast Asia, as well as expanding trade and democratic freedoms.

In the spirit of friendship, I encourage you as current and future policy leaders within the Indonesia to redouble your already-impressive efforts to combat terror here and to work closely with the broader international community to dismantle the global terror network, and create a conducive environment for economic growth and prosperity-so that our two great nations may flourish together. Thank you.

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