Lisbon – The Canadian Government is studying insistent Indonesian requests for closer relations between the military of the two countries. Jakarta is seeking training for its army and police, regular exercises with the Canadian Navy, and a military attachZ in Ottawa.

These contacts, relating to military assistance, are the result of restrictions on this kind of support by Washington. In 1992, following the Santa Cruz massacre, US Congress suspended the military assistance being provided to Jakarta through the IMET programme. Although IMET was resumed last year, it was limited to the "civil education" of Jakarta's military, involving training schemes on democracy, submission to political authority, and respect for human rights.

Restrictions were also placed on the sale of US arms to the Indonesian Armed Forces. Jakarta no longer has access to small weaponry, riot control equipment and US-made armoured vehicles. A draft bill put forward by Patrick Kennedy could increase the number of items banned, and make arms transactions conditional upon respect for human rights in Indonesia. (...)

There would undoubtedly be outcry from the various Canadian NGOs sensitive to the East Timor issue if there were any sign of a positive response by the Canadian Government to Jakarta's overtures.