President Obama has embraced Indonesia as a crucial ally in Southeast Asia, but rights groups and Congressional critics say the administration is too eager to tout Jakarta as a democratic success story.Ahead of Obama's forthcoming trip to Indonesia, the second of his presidency, they want the U.S. to pressure Indonesia over its weak response to recent sectarian attacks by Islamists and abuses by the military in West Papua.
Those demands clash with U.S. strategic interests in Indonesia, which has assumed more importance for Washington as it deepens its engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. In November, Indonesia will host a summit of east Asian leaders, the first attended by a U.S. president.
"It seems now the administration's policy is to be nice to Indonesia for fear it would come under the umbrella of China. ... That's the sense of where we are headed," said Delegate Eni Faleomavaega, ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Asia-Pacific subcommittee. The Samoan lawmaker is a leading advocate for Papuan rights.