Canberra – Australian Prime Minister John Howard yesterday defended a controversial plan to renew military links with Indonesia's elite Kopassus unit to help fight terror in the region – despite previously banning work with the group due to its questionable human rights record.
His remarks came a day after defence force chief Peter Cosgrove said Australia needed to cooperate with Kopassus because the special forces unit was responsible for counter-terrorism and hostage rescue in Indonesia.
Yesterday, Mr Howard said the ties were in Australia's interests. "It is important to understand that the contact is very limited, and there is capacity within that organisation to deal with hijacking and terror situations," he told journalists, adding that Kopassus troops could one day be called on to save Australians caught in terrorist situations.
Defence Minister Robert Hill also told the Senate: "Whether it is with the police or whether it is with Kopassus, we will work with those Indonesian force elements necessary to best ensure safety of Australian citizens." At the same time, Australia would continue to pressure Indonesia over human rights concerns, he said.
Australian and Indonesian forces had close ties during the 1990s and signed a military treaty in 1995. Many officers from the Indonesian military – known as TNI – and Kopassus soldiers trained at Canberra's defence academy.
Australia cut military ties with Jakarta in September 1999 after pro-Jakarta militias trained by the army and police went on a bloody rampage in East Timor following its vote for independence. Kopassus, which has long been accused of rights abuses throughout Indonesia, was accused of being behind much of the violence.
Canberra has already re-established some links with the TNI, but has been reluctant to forge a new relationship with Kopassus. The elite forces have also been accused of supporting and helping train the Islamic extremist group Laskar Jihad.
But Australia's main opposition Labor party expressed concerns about renewing the links.