GILLARD GIVES WAR PLANES TO INDONESIA
The Letters Editor
The Advertiser
GPO Box 339
ADELAIDE SA 5001
Dear Sir/Madam
RE: LETTER TO THE EDITOR
- NO AID TO THE INDONESIAN MILITARY
Many Australians who give a priority to human rights would have been dismayed to read that Prime Minister Gillard will give four RAAF Hercules to Indonesia – a gift worth $30 million (“Gillard’s gift of four war planes”, The Advertiser
21.11.2011).
21.11.2011).
At the same time she tells us that we have had our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan as a contribution to the US war against terrorism.
The fact is that the Indonesian military (TNI) has been the strongest
force for terrorism in our region for nearly the past 50 years. Since the early
1960s it has been responsible for torture, rape, murder and genocide in West
Papua, East Timor, Acheh and Indonesia itself. No TNI leaders have ever been
brought to justice and none of the victims of their crimes have ever been
compensated.
force for terrorism in our region for nearly the past 50 years. Since the early
1960s it has been responsible for torture, rape, murder and genocide in West
Papua, East Timor, Acheh and Indonesia itself. No TNI leaders have ever been
brought to justice and none of the victims of their crimes have ever been
compensated.
These crimes against humanity are continuing in West Papua which the TNI still occupies with great brutality.
It is highly inappropriate for us to be rewarding the TNI by giving such gifts even though the report claims that the planes will be used for disaster relief.
During the Acheh tsunami in 2004, many aid organisations had to rely on the TNI to transport aid to victims and to resettle those at risk. It is a matter of fact
that the TNI charged highly inflated fees for the use of their vehicles and
aircraft and sold much of the aid for profit. Apart from its contribution to
regional terrorism, it is a very corrupt organisation.
that the TNI charged highly inflated fees for the use of their vehicles and
aircraft and sold much of the aid for profit. Apart from its contribution to
regional terrorism, it is a very corrupt organisation.
Such gifts may help smoothe over strained Indonesian-Australian relations caused by the live cattle ban and they may hasten the chances of early release of Australian citizens who face drug charges in Indonesia. However, they will do nothing for human rights in our region.
If our leaders really care about human rights, they should be demanding that there will be no military aid or cooperation with the TNI until all the war criminals in its ranks are brought to justice, compensation has been paid to all its victims and its troops have been withdrawn from West Papua.
Yours sincerely
Andrew (Andy) Alcock
Posted on November 26th, 2011
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