Abdul Khalik, Jakarta – Following Democratic victories in last week's US midterm elections, Defense Minister Juwono Sudarsono said Indonesia would continue to spread its military purchases among major powers to avoid being dependent on any one country.
"We will try to balance our defense relations with all major powers. So, we are now examining all our military equipment needs, and then deciding which country we will buy them from," he said on the sidelines of a seminar on South Korea-ASEAN ties at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies here on Saturday.
Juwono said that in addition to the US, Indonesia had military and strategic ties with Australia, China, Russia, Japan and South Korea.
Indonesia suffered declines in its military after the United States imposed restrictions on military sales and cooperation in 1992 over concerns about rights abuses by Indonesian armed forces in East Timor (now Timor Leste).
Facing a severe shortage of spare parts for its US-made equipment, the Indonesian military relied on the black market as well as spare parts taken from damaged equipment.
Only after launching its "war on terror" in response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001 did the US consider resuming military ties. Indonesia, which has the world's largest Muslim population, is seen as a strategic partner in the fight against terrorism, and the Republicans controlled both US chambers after 2002.
Last November the U.S Department of State lifted all remaining congressional restrictions on US military assistance to Indonesia.
In February, the Bush administration proposed a more than sixfold increase in military funding for the country.
However, Democrats regained control of both US houses of Congress for the first time in 12 years during the midterm elections last week.
Some observers have said that the Democrats, who are known for their concern about human rights, could raise concerns about issues in Indonesia such as the unsolved murder of activist Munir. That case had already been brought before the previous House.
Several experts even suggested that the Democrat-dominated Congress could issue a resolution on Munir.
They argued that if Indonesia failed to resolve this and other cases, it could face sanctions including cuts to economic aid and military assistance. The waiver that lifted the US military embargo on Indonesia is not permanent and is reviewed each year.
Human rights activist Munir Said Thalib was murdered by arsenic poisoning on a Garuda flight in September 2004. Lower courts and a presidentially sanctioned investigative team found evidence linking top National Intelligence Agency officials to his murder, although none have ever been charged.
The only man successfully prosecuted for his murder, an off-duty Garuda pilot, was found not guilty on appeal by the Supreme Court in September.
Juwono said he expected no significant changes in US policy on Indonesia, however, as Democratic leaders in both chambers had expressed a belief that Indonesia should receive aid.
"The Indonesian police are still investigating it so the US understands that Indonesia should handle the case without outside pressure," he said.