Visiting US Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz Sunday denied
rumors that the US government would set up a military base on Sabang island in
Indonesia's Aceh province as a reward from Indonesia for US relief aid for
tsunami victims in Aceh.
Wolfowitz made the denial after meeting with Indonesia's Defense Minister
Juwono Sudarsono here, the Antara news agency said.
He said the US government would continue to help Indonesia cope with disaster
relief efforts and would coordinate and cooperate with its Indonesian
counterpart in reconstruction and rehabilitation of Aceh.
Wolfowitz, former US ambassador in Jakarta, arrived here Saturday for a
highly publicized two-day visit, which includes a visit to US troops engaged in
rescue and relief operations in Banda Aceh, capital of the province of Aceh.
Local media reported that Wolfowitz could also talk with Indonesian Defense
Minister Sudarsono the possibility of partially lifting US arms embargo on
Indonesia, imposed 13 years ago because of Indonesia's alleged crackdown on East
Timorese asking for independence.
Due to the embargo, some of the US-made C-130 military aircraft of the
Indonesian Air Force have been grounded and unable to participate in tsunami
rescue and relief operations because they lack spare parts.
The US military has sent 14 aircraft consisting of five Hercules aircraft,
one Boeing-737 and eight Sehawk helicopters carried by the USS Abraham Lincoln
aircraft carrier in its rescue and relief efforts.
The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier has been on Pulau Nasiwaters off
Sabang since Jan. 1, 2005.
