ID :
86164
Mon, 10/26/2009 - 02:45
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https://www.oananews.org//node/86164
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News Focus: RI NOT TO EXTEND COOPERATION WITH NAMRU-2
By Eliswan Azly
Jakarta, Oct 22 (ANTARA) - The government of Indonesia has decided not to continue the biomedical cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research Unit 2 (NAMRU-2), often assumed to be associated with the appointment of Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedianingsih.
But on Thursday (Oct 22), this newly-installed health minister who had been reported to have a close relations with NAMRU-2 pointed out that the government would terminate cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research institution.
"Cooperation with the United States will be continued but not with NAMRU. The form of cooperation will be formulated later. Cooperation with NAMRU had been terminated some time ago and we will not continue it," the minister was quoted by Metro TV station as saying on Sunday.
She said healthcare cooperation with other countries would only be established with research institutions managed by civilians, not by the military.
"The cooperation should be evaluated on the basis of Indonesia being on equal footing, and whether the cooperation is transparent and mutually beneficial," she said.
The cooperation with the US will remain unchanged, but not under the name of NAMRU-2. "We want cooperation with US civilian researchers and not with the US military," Endang said.
Earlier, Dr Sofyan Siregar, a political analyst of the European Islamic University in Rotterdam, called on the government to immediately made a decision to terminate the contract with NAMRU-2.
"The 30-year contract with Namru-2, often considered controversial, had already expired. In the meantime, a polemic on the pros and cons on the issue had been rife. Therefore the government should make up its mind and issue a decision," said Sofyan who is a roving lecturer of the Islamic University of North Sumatra (UISU) in an emailed message.
However, according to him, if the newly-appointed health minister did not wish the cooperation with NAMRU-2 extended, it was a good decision freeing Indonesia of US influence.
But the halt in the cooperation with NAMRU-2 only concerned a change in the name of the institution, but elements and those engaged in the new institution remained unchanged.
In the past, a noted legislator of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Mutammimul Ula, agreed with then Minister Hasan Wirajuda that a contract with other countries should meet four conditions - politically peaceful, technically secured, legally secured, and security guaranteed including on the continuity of Namru-2 in Indonesia.
"Whatever the government`s decision on Namru-2, it needs to be made provided the short and long term national interest is not put on the line," he said.
In response to this comment, Sofyan said the government of Indonesia had to study the US proposal for a new Memorandum of Understanding from Indonesia last year with regard to Namru-2`s status.
Most important was that the government has yet to determine its position toward the US proposal without specifying the details, but "I know why Minister Endang Rahayu has the courage to say that there will be no more cooperation with NAMRU-2."
Under the MoU, Indonesia made a review of the previous regulation to prevent its application. Following an inter-departmental meeting, the government agreed to revise the principles of Indonesia`s cooperation with Namru-2, former Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda said.
The government has proposed a new MoU in November 2007, while former Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari said recently that even Namru-2 had already conducted research of infectious diseases since the 1970s, the results of which had yet to give a positive impact on the development of infectious disease eradication in Indonesia.
But earlier former Minister Siti Fadilah said the government`s decision on whether or not the US Naval Medical Research Unit-2 would be allowed to stay somewhat longer in the country would depend on a recommendation of the House of Representatives (DPR).
"The question is now still undecided. The US has sent its revised proposal and we have yet to consider it. But the key to the problem is in the hands of the DPR, which represents the people. If the people wants NAMRU-2 to stay somewhat longer, so be it," Siti Fadilah said at a hearing with Ad Hoc Committee IV of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).
But even if the government and DPR eventually agreed to continue the cooperation with NAMRU-2, it should be carried out on the basis of the law on international cooperation, she said.
"And it is my understanding that Indonesia always cooperates with other countries with due respect to its active and independent foreign policy, its own laws and in ways benefiting its people," the former health minister said.
The government not long ago expressed its intention to renew its agreement with Washington on NAMRU-2`s presence and operations in Indonesia.
In the meantime, Joserizal Junalis of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) and Munarman of An Nashr Institute appealed to the government not to extend the cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research institution.
In their statements, they said the presence of Namru-2 in Indonesia for over 30 years already, was reported to have failed to benefit the people. An agreement between the Indonesian and US governments on Namru-2 operations reached on January 16, 1970, was believed to have caused a loss to Indonesia because of the diplomatic immunity granted to Namru-2 staff members, their tax exemption and free accommodation.
Namru-2 was also believed to have violated the cooperation, because they had been continuing their research although their contract had expired.
More saddening, Namru-2 was also reported to be lacking in transparency of their information for the Indonesian government and that their operations were allegedly linked to US intelligence operations in Indonesia.
Denying all these allegations, the US embassy in Jakarta in its defence pointed out that Namru-2 was a transparent organization which only conducted medical and scientific research work focusing on tropical diseases.
Jakarta, Oct 22 (ANTARA) - The government of Indonesia has decided not to continue the biomedical cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research Unit 2 (NAMRU-2), often assumed to be associated with the appointment of Health Minister Endang Rahayu Sedianingsih.
But on Thursday (Oct 22), this newly-installed health minister who had been reported to have a close relations with NAMRU-2 pointed out that the government would terminate cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research institution.
"Cooperation with the United States will be continued but not with NAMRU. The form of cooperation will be formulated later. Cooperation with NAMRU had been terminated some time ago and we will not continue it," the minister was quoted by Metro TV station as saying on Sunday.
She said healthcare cooperation with other countries would only be established with research institutions managed by civilians, not by the military.
"The cooperation should be evaluated on the basis of Indonesia being on equal footing, and whether the cooperation is transparent and mutually beneficial," she said.
The cooperation with the US will remain unchanged, but not under the name of NAMRU-2. "We want cooperation with US civilian researchers and not with the US military," Endang said.
Earlier, Dr Sofyan Siregar, a political analyst of the European Islamic University in Rotterdam, called on the government to immediately made a decision to terminate the contract with NAMRU-2.
"The 30-year contract with Namru-2, often considered controversial, had already expired. In the meantime, a polemic on the pros and cons on the issue had been rife. Therefore the government should make up its mind and issue a decision," said Sofyan who is a roving lecturer of the Islamic University of North Sumatra (UISU) in an emailed message.
However, according to him, if the newly-appointed health minister did not wish the cooperation with NAMRU-2 extended, it was a good decision freeing Indonesia of US influence.
But the halt in the cooperation with NAMRU-2 only concerned a change in the name of the institution, but elements and those engaged in the new institution remained unchanged.
In the past, a noted legislator of the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), Mutammimul Ula, agreed with then Minister Hasan Wirajuda that a contract with other countries should meet four conditions - politically peaceful, technically secured, legally secured, and security guaranteed including on the continuity of Namru-2 in Indonesia.
"Whatever the government`s decision on Namru-2, it needs to be made provided the short and long term national interest is not put on the line," he said.
In response to this comment, Sofyan said the government of Indonesia had to study the US proposal for a new Memorandum of Understanding from Indonesia last year with regard to Namru-2`s status.
Most important was that the government has yet to determine its position toward the US proposal without specifying the details, but "I know why Minister Endang Rahayu has the courage to say that there will be no more cooperation with NAMRU-2."
Under the MoU, Indonesia made a review of the previous regulation to prevent its application. Following an inter-departmental meeting, the government agreed to revise the principles of Indonesia`s cooperation with Namru-2, former Foreign Minister Hasan Wirajuda said.
The government has proposed a new MoU in November 2007, while former Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari said recently that even Namru-2 had already conducted research of infectious diseases since the 1970s, the results of which had yet to give a positive impact on the development of infectious disease eradication in Indonesia.
But earlier former Minister Siti Fadilah said the government`s decision on whether or not the US Naval Medical Research Unit-2 would be allowed to stay somewhat longer in the country would depend on a recommendation of the House of Representatives (DPR).
"The question is now still undecided. The US has sent its revised proposal and we have yet to consider it. But the key to the problem is in the hands of the DPR, which represents the people. If the people wants NAMRU-2 to stay somewhat longer, so be it," Siti Fadilah said at a hearing with Ad Hoc Committee IV of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD).
But even if the government and DPR eventually agreed to continue the cooperation with NAMRU-2, it should be carried out on the basis of the law on international cooperation, she said.
"And it is my understanding that Indonesia always cooperates with other countries with due respect to its active and independent foreign policy, its own laws and in ways benefiting its people," the former health minister said.
The government not long ago expressed its intention to renew its agreement with Washington on NAMRU-2`s presence and operations in Indonesia.
In the meantime, Joserizal Junalis of the Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) and Munarman of An Nashr Institute appealed to the government not to extend the cooperation with the US Naval Medical Research institution.
In their statements, they said the presence of Namru-2 in Indonesia for over 30 years already, was reported to have failed to benefit the people. An agreement between the Indonesian and US governments on Namru-2 operations reached on January 16, 1970, was believed to have caused a loss to Indonesia because of the diplomatic immunity granted to Namru-2 staff members, their tax exemption and free accommodation.
Namru-2 was also believed to have violated the cooperation, because they had been continuing their research although their contract had expired.
More saddening, Namru-2 was also reported to be lacking in transparency of their information for the Indonesian government and that their operations were allegedly linked to US intelligence operations in Indonesia.
Denying all these allegations, the US embassy in Jakarta in its defence pointed out that Namru-2 was a transparent organization which only conducted medical and scientific research work focusing on tropical diseases.
