US Senate blocks Indonesia aid over Freeport murders
Thursday, October 30 2003 - 03:22 AM WIB
The United States' Senate has moved to block some military aid to Indonesia over Jakarta's response to the killing of two American teachers in copper and gold PT. Freeport Indonesia mining complex in Papua province last year, ABC Radio Australia reported.
The Senate has agreed to cut off $US400,000 in military training assistance that would have gone to Indonesia next year.
The House of Representatives passed a similar ban in July.
Reuters news agency reports although the amount is not large, supporters of the move believe it will send a message that Washington wants a proper investigation of the killing of the two teachers.
The two were part of a group ambushed last August near an American-run mine.PT.Freeport Indonesia is a subsidiary of New Orleans based mining giant Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc.
Police have made no arrests or named any suspects in the case.(*)