US Promoted Close Ties to Indonesian Military as Suharto’s Rule Came to an End in Spring 1998

The Clinton administration sought to preserve close ties to the Indonesian Armed Forces as President Suharto’s rule came to an end in May 1998, even as the Army carried out significant human rights abuses, according to recently declassified documents posted today by the National Security Archive based at The George Washington University.   US officials were aware of the military’s involvement in kidnappings and disappearances of student activists going on at the time but saw preservation of the Army’s role as central to political stability in the country, the records show.

The United States was actively engaged in Indonesian affairs in Spring 1998.  Officials monitored the growing military opposition to Suharto, including noting the view of his own son-in-law, Prabowo, that Suharto needed to step down.  Clinton also pressed Indonesia on its economy, specifically urging acceptance of an IMF structural adjustment package that actually worsened the political crisis and helped bring about Suharto’s ouster.

The newly released documents add to the significant declassified record on U.S.-Indonesia relations, which includes important materials the National Security Archive has posted on topics such as Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor and regime human rights abuses dating to the mid-1960s.