06/07/2002
EDITORIAL NUMBER=0-09931

WOLFOWITZ ON INDONESIA

As a democracy and the world’s most populous Muslim nation, Indonesia can be a model for other Muslim countries. The dominant Muslim tradition in Indonesia is one of moderation and tolerance, and Indonesia has a secular constitution that protects all faiths.

Nations engaged in fighting the global war on terrorism have a critical interest in seeing Indonesian democracy succeed. But for that to happen, the Indonesian economy must start to grow again. People must associate prosperity with democracy. As U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz told a gathering of international officials in Singapore, "To win the war on terrorism and shape a more peaceful world, we must speak to the hundreds of millions of moderate and tolerant people in the Muslim world, regardless of where they live, who aspire to enjoy the blessings of freedom and democracy and free enterprise."

Military reform is also essential. As Mr. Wolfowitz said, "You can’t have a successful democracy with a military that abuses its people." The U.S. restricted military ties with Indonesia three years ago in response to atrocities supported or condoned by some elements of the Indonesian army in East Timor. Since then, the Indonesian government has made important changes in the military. They include putting the armed forces under civilian control, separating the police from the military, and establishing tribunals for human rights violators. These are good first steps, but there’s a lot more to be done.

With further progress in making the Indonesian military more accountable, the U.S. and Indonesia should be able to increase military contacts. As Mr. Wolfowitz said, "Experience really does show that those officers who’ve had real contact with the U.S. are much more open in their outlook, much more accepting of civilian control, much more supportive of democracy." The military has a vital role to play in the Indonesian government’s efforts to prevent al-Qaida or other terrorists from setting up cells in its territory.

The U.S. and its allies in the global war on terrorism have an interest in reaching out not only to Indonesians but to all those in the Muslim world who yearn for freedom and prosperity. As Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said, the U.S. supports "the voices struggling to rise above the din of extremism, voices that tell us the Islam of Mohammed is not the religion of [Osama] bin Laden and the suicide bombers."