In testimony before the House International Relations Subcommittee on International Operations and Human Rights July 24, Kramer said:

"Indonesia is particularly important to the Department of Defense because of the key role it has played and will continue to play in the stability and security of the Asia-Pacific region."

Kramer expressed concern, however, over alleged human rights violations in Indonesia. "We are particularly troubled by allegations of military involvement in the disappearances of students and other political activists earlier this year as well as the May 12 shootings of the

students at Trisakti University. We are likewise aware of similar troubling allegations of military involvement in the recent riots," he said.

"The Department of Defense," Kramer said, "as part of the overall USG effort, will press for credible investigations of these incidents, both publicly and in private meetings with Indonesian officials. We have consistently urged restraint to officials in Jakarta, most recently during the of Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Ralston. We think it critical that the ethnic Chinese minority be fairly treated, with full equal protection under the law," he said.

"The Defense Department is taking special care to ensure adequate policy-level review of all Department of Defense activities with the Indonesian armed forces, especially in light of the still unsettled conditions in the country," Kramer said. "We believe professionalizing the Indonesian armed forces will help reduce human rights abuses by the military, a view that has been supported in the past by Indonesian human rights activists."

Continued engagement with Indonesia is in the best interest of the United States and is key to bringing stability and prosperity to the region, he said. "In this time of financial crisis in the region it is even more important for us to continue to recognize the stabilizing role that only America can play."