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WASHINGTON DC, KOMPAS.com – Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to meet with Pentagon officials in Washington, United States, on Thursday (10/15/2020), during a visit that was criticized by seven human rights organizations for what they called his alleged direct involvement in human rights abuses.
Prabowo visited the United States at the invitation of Defense Minister Mark Esper and plans to meet with various Pentagon officials, including Defense Minister Esper himself.
An official speech to Prabowo will take place on Friday (10/16/2020), according to the news agency Reuters.
Also read: Human rights activists ask the United States to cancel the visit of Prabowo, spokesman for the Defense Minister: Go ahead
Previously, the United States blacklisted Prabowo because it believed that Prabowo had experience in human rights violations. This ban was implemented under the administrations of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Prabowo, 68, a former Kopassus commander, has been accused of being involved in human rights violations in various places, including the 1998 riots and in Timor Leste.
Prabowo Subianto was denied entry to the United States in March 2014 as he was about to attend his son’s graduation.
Prabowo, who was Kopassus commander-in-chief at the end of Suharto’s power, was accused of being involved in the kidnapping of activists and students.
Prabowo denied his involvement in human rights violations,
A senior US Defense Ministry official defended the decision to welcome Prabowo to the Pentagon.
Also Read: Prabowo Discusses Defense Cooperation With Some US Offices.
“Prabowo was appointed defense minister by the president-elect of Indonesia, the third largest country in the world,” the official told the news agency on condition of anonymity. Reuters.
“He is our partner in a very important society and it is important to make contact with him and treat him as a partner,” added the official.
During this visit, Prabowo is scheduled to discuss the possibility of buying fighter jets, a move that Russia also wants to explore.
Amnesty International and six other human rights groups have condemned the defense ministry’s decision to grant Prabowo a visa.
“Prabowo Subianto is a former general who has been banned (from entering the United States) since 2000 on suspicion of direct involvement in human rights violations,” human rights groups said in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Also read: This Thursday, Prabowo meets with senior US officials at the Pentagon
Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto before the inauguration of the Indonesian Advanced Cabinet ministers in Istana Negara, Jakarta, Wednesday (10/23/2019). Indonesian President Joko Widodo announced and appointed the Indonesian Advanced Cabinet ministers, as well as ministers at the ministerial level.Human rights disaster for Indonesia
“The recent decision by the Foreign Ministry to lift the ban on Prabowo Subianto is a sudden move and contradicts US foreign policy,” the group said again.
The rights group called Prabowo’s visit to the United States a “disaster for human rights in Indonesia.”
Senator Patrick Leahy, one of the drafters of a law banning US military assistance to foreign military personnel that violates human rights, criticized the Trump administration’s decision saying that Prabowo “was not eligible to enter this country.”
“By granting visas to Defense Minister Prabowo, the president and the chancellor again demonstrated that for them” law and order “is an empty slogan that ignores the importance of justice,” Leahy said. Reuters.
Also read: The US government is requested to revoke Prabowo Subianto’s visit visa
In a meeting with Prabowo, US officials are expected to again warn Indonesia not to make large-scale arms purchases from Russia.
Russia’s purchase of fighter jets will trigger US sanctions under regulations Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) or a body that monitors the enemies of the United States through sanctions.
“We are raising CAATSA’s risks in all of our conversations with the defense ministries of various countries,” the US official said. Reuters.
Seven rights groups that wrote letters to Foreign Minister Pampeo also questioned whether the visa granted to Prabowo Subianto grants him immunity in the United States.
If Prabowo does not get immunity, the United States should investigate whether he was involved in the torture and there is a possibility that he will be tried and extradited, the human rights group said.
“We urge you to clarify whether the visa issued to Prabowo Subianto does not include any form of immunity against him and to ensure that if he arrives in the United States, he is investigated. If there is sufficient evidence, he will be tried on suspicion of crimes committed under international law, “the group said. it’s in your letter.
Also read: From the opposition to supporting the government, Prabowo: My ideals have never changed
BBC Indonesia He tried to contact Prabowo’s spokesman and the Gerindra Party, but has not received a reply.
If not New York TimesPrabowo spokesman Irawan Ronodipura said “Prabowo’s ban has been lifted and that he is visiting the United States to discuss cooperation.”
Irawan also said that Prabowo recognized that the United States “has an important role in maintaining peace and stability in the region” and that the visit was aimed at “exploring that the armed forces of the two countries can work together in the future. to guarantee the protection of common interests “.
Before leaving, Prabowo said “the United States is an important country, I was invited and I must comply with the invitation.”
Also read: Prabowo: Soldiers want to be brave not to play, what if they don’t eat?
