Indonesia not to push U.S. to resume military ties: minister

Indonesia will not push the United States to resume the military ties between the two countries that has been severed for 12 years over alleged right abuse committed by Indonesian elite troops of Kopassus, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said in Jakarta on Friday.

"We have been conducting intensive communication with US military regarding this issue, informing them that reform in Indonesian armed forces is underway. We would not ask them to resume the military cooperation with us," Marty told a news briefing on the postponement of U.S. President Barrack Obama's visit to Indonesia.

"We learned that they are very comfortable with the reform in Indonesian military. Let the ties resumption come naturally," Marty added.

The U.S. military stopped cooperation with Indonesia in providing education and training programs for the Indonesian elite troops in U.S. following the allegation that the Indonesian troops committed atrocities and rights abuse in the wake of Indonesia's reform movement in late 1990s and during the referendum process in former Indonesian province East Timor.

Obama delayed a visit to Indonesia scheduled for March 23-25 until June to deal with Congress vote on health care reform bill at the weekend.

Source:Xinhua