The East Timor Action Network (ETAN) today urged President Bush to set the record straight and restrict all military assistance for the Indonesian military (TNI) when he visits Bali, Indonesia.

"President Bush's message to Indonesian President Megawati must be crystal clear: The Indonesian military must clean up its act before he will consider granting prestigious US assistance," said John M. Miller, spokesperson for ETAN.

In an interview with Indonesian television, President Bush recently stated that he planned to discuss "mil-to-mil relations between Indonesia," when he meets with Indonesia's President Megawati this Wednesday. In an unusual correction of a president traveling abroad, the Washington Post reported administration officials saying that President Bush "misspoke."

"Human rights violations in Aceh, Papua and elsewhere must end, and military personnel must be held accountable for crimes against humanity committed in East Timor and Indonesia," said Miller. "Bush must press for the extradition of Indonesian officers indicted in East Timor and prosecution of the military officers believed responsible for killing two Americans and an Indonesian teacher in Papua."

"For over three decades, the US and Indonesian militaries were extremely close and we saw no move to reform," said Ed McWilliams, a former State Department official who served as political counselor in the US Embassy in Indonesia from 1996-1999. "The Indonesian military's (TNI) worst abuses took place when we were most engaged."

"While the President may believe that Congress has changed its attitude concerning military training for Indonesia, as recently as last July the House of Representatives voted unanimously to oppose IMET for Indonesia," said Karen Orenstein, ETAN's Washington Coordinator. "Congress has unambiguously conveyed that it wants to see those responsible for the brutal murder of US citizens in Papua prosecuted and convicted and an end to civilian deaths and other abuses in Aceh."

Bush last week also told the Indonesian media, "Our standpoint is that we don't think that in Aceh, for example, that the issue should be solved and can be solved militarily."

"Bush can't support peace for Aceh and Papua and military engagement at the same time. Sending contradictory messages will only strengthen the military's resolve, delay reform and lead to more suffering," said Miller. "The President should call for an immediate ceasefire in Aceh, the withdrawal of troops, and a return to the negotiating table with significant involvement from civil society."