U.S. softens stance on Indonesia's war on terror

Indonesian hardline Muslim groups have demanded the release of an Indonesian terrorist suspect detained in the Philippines

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- The United States softened its approach to get Indonesia to do more to crackdown on militant Muslim groups accused of having links with al Qaeda during high-level security talks.

The two-day talks were held in an effort to boost defense cooperation following criticisms that Jakarta was not doing enough in the war against terrorism.

"The U.S. did not ask us (Indonesia) to do more against militant groups. I think they understand the sensitivity and potential backlash involved in this," a senior government official, who attended the talks, told CNN.

"We are doing something in the anti-terrorism campaign but we cannot arrest people without concrete evidence. The people will not accept this," the official added.

Indonesia's neighboring countries of Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines have cracked down on suspected terrorists by arresting nearly 100 people in recent months.

A joint statement issued after the talks said:"Both delegations agreed that counter-terrorism efforts vary depending on the situation in each country."

The talks were headed by U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs, Peter Brookes and Indonesian director-general for Defense Strategy, Major-General Sudrajat.

Demands for more action

The change in approach does not mean a softening of the U.S. war against terrorism.

It is believed that the U.S. is beginning to realize that highly-publicized demands for more action against militant Islamic groups in the world's largest Muslim country may not be effective.

A U.S. soldier trains his Indonesian counterpart during a seminar on the use of non-lethal weapons

Earlier this month, founder and chairman of Business Executives for National Security in Washington D.C., Stanley Weiss, wrote that "public slaps from Washington that Jakarta is not doing enough to fight terrorism -- even if true -- only weakens moderates like President Megawati."

"Allowing Indonesia to cooperate quietly in the war against terrorism is the best way to undermine extremists and bolster moderates like President Megawati," Weiss wrote in a column in the Asian Wall Street Journal.

While no concrete measures on fighting terrorism were revealed, both countries agreed there was a need to work together.

"...the September 11 attacks have reinforced the need to focus on joint efforts to fight international terrorism and other trans-national threats," said the statement.

Both countries also agreed to explore future bilateral and regional cooperation to fight piracy in the waters of the vast archipelago which serves as a vital shipping lane to transport highly-prized oil, gas and precious metals to Asia and the West.

During the talks, Indonesia sought to establish how the U.S. regarded the country.

"We were told that we are important and the U.S. would like us to be stable," said the government official.

Beleaguered military

Indonesia's beleaguered military, fighting to restore its image after violence in East Timor, received a stamp of approval from the U.S. in its efforts to reform itself.

"Both delegations agree that this reform process should win greater international understanding and support," said the statement.

Major-General Sudrajat told a news conference that the U.S. was "confident" that military reforms was moving in "good direction" and suggested that Indonesia "publicized to the world" what was being done within the institution.

The U.S. cut military ties with Indonesia when pro-Jakarta militias, backed by elements of the military, rampaged through East Timor in an orgy of arson and killings after an independence vote in 1999.

Hundreds are believed to have been killed.

Indonesia is currently holding a human rights tribunal to try military, police and civilians involved in the violence.

U.S. officials cautioned that the resumption of military ties still had "a way to go" but the talks would lead to greater understanding between the two countries.