The Wire

For the first time since 1998, Indonesia’s Kopassus Special Forces was invited to attend a U.S. military conference in Hawaii. Involvement of the elite forces unit in U.S. counter-terrorism efforts signifies a change in attitude in the U.S. since cutting all ties with Kopassus throughout the 1990’s due to their appalling human rights record, particularly in East Timor. However, since the end of 2005, both the U.S. administration and the Australian Government, have renewed ties with Kopassus in an attempt to foster relations with the worlds largest moderate Muslim nation. However, Human Rights Groups claim these moves grossly undermine the struggle within Indonesia to end military impunity.