Indonesians off to Duntroon in attempt to thaw frosty relations Robert Hill ... "Indonesian authorities are well aware of our values." Photo: Paul Harris By Lindsay Murdoch, Herald Correspondent in Jakarta The Federal Government has agreed to take significant steps to rebuild military ties with Indonesia since relations between the two countries' armed forces were frozen over East Timor in 1999. The Defence Minister, Robert Hill, said after two days of high-level talks in Jakarta that the ties would be stepped up but there was no need to move too fast. Officials from both countries have made it clear that Australia is not considering training elite Indonesian forces as it did in the mid-1990s. The training was stopped over the Indonesian military's human rights record. Senator Hill announced seven Indonesian officers would be offered places in the Defence Force Academy in Canberra - the first time this has happened.FROM http://smh.com.au/news/0203/08/national/national8.html Mega Suckana putrid has stepped up murderous repression in Aceh and west Papua recently.The au govt has bought in shoot to kill orders and is asking for detainment and torture powers.The crony capitalists in both reigons remain on good terms with the last empire.
