Patrick Leahy: “The fact is that the TNI participates in training programs under both the expanded International Military Education and…”

“The fact is that the TNI participates in training programs under both the expanded International Military Education and Training, E-IMET, program and the Counterterrorism Fellowship Program, CTFP. This is the largest CTFP program currently underway anywhere in the world. Millions of dollars have been appropriated for these programs in recent years, including for the types of defense management, military justice, civil military relations, and other courses that the Senator from Missouri and I support. The TNI is participating in the E-IMET program which Congress has funded at the level requested by the Bush administration. Our law also does not prevent military exercises and other contacts with the U.S. military through officer visits, educational exchanges, and port visits. Perhaps the most visible evidence of this is the U.S. military working side by side with the TNI during the ongoing humanitarian relief operations in Aceh. With respect to training, U.S. law restricts only the full restoration of regular IMET assistance until the Indonesian Government and the TNI 'are cooperating' with the FBI's investigation into the August 31, 2002, murders of two American citizens and one Indonesian citizen. By 'cooperating,' we obviously mean not simply cooperating in limited ways, but fully cooperating.”