Posted on: Sunday, August 18, 2002

EDITORIAL
Indonesia demands painstaking diplomacy

The Bush administration understandably wants to restore military-to-military relations with Indonesia, but difficulties abound.

Indonesia's military, which has long had an unfortunate record for mistreating its own people, was clearly implicated in the slaughter that followed a secession vote three years ago in East Timor. A former police chief and five army officers were acquitted last week of charges in the killings.

Human rights activists were appalled, saying prosecutors failed to present damning evidence.

Increasing signs, meanwhile, suggest the military is gearing up for a major offensive against separatists in Aceh province, where tens of thousands have already perished.

The military has failed to protect civilians in other areas from sectarian violence.

Washington fears Indonesia is ripe for activity by radical Islamic groups, although Indonesia itself denies there's a problem.

It will be an incredibly difficult — though necessary — job to try to walk the line between helping the Indonesian military prevent terrorist inroads without helping it to become even more repressive.