Military gulf remains between Indonesia, U.S.

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

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- U.S. officials have warned that there was still some way to go before the resumption of military ties with Indonesia could take place.

The two countries held high level talks on Wednesday in an effort to boost defence cooperation following criticisms that Jakarta was not doing enough in the war against terrorism.

The two-day talks are also seen as an effort to restore US military ties with Indonesia, including military training and arms sales, which was cut off following violence in East Timor in 1999.

"I think there is still a way to go and I think both sides realize that, and as friends and as a mature relationship, we know that these things take time....," Ralph Boyce, US ambassador to Indonesia, told reporters.

"And with good intentions on both sides....we ought to be able to get to where I would consider to be a more normal military relationship," Boyce added.

The U.S. cut 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. Hundreds are believed to have been killed.

Indonesia criticized

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

The talks are attended by U.S. deputy assistant secretary defence for Asian and Pacific Affairs and Indonesia's senior military officials.

Other issues which would be discussed are terrorism and trans-national crime.

Indonesia has been criticized by regional governments for not taking action against radical Muslim groups who are believed to have links with the Al-Qaida terrorist network.

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

Admiral Dennis Blair, U.S. commander in chief of the Pacific fleet, has said that Indonesia would be more effective in the anti-terrorism campaign if U.S. had a "fuller relationship" with Indonesia..

"I believe we agree that we need to increase our cooperation. I really hope that this dialogue will be conducive to a closer relationship between Indonesia and the U.S. in the security aspect," said Indonesian Defence Minister Mahtori Djalil.

Senior officials attending the talks told CNN the U.S. also wanted to know about the reforms talking place in the military following the ouster of former President Suharto who used the military to back his authoratarian rule.

"They (U.S.) want to know what we are, what we stand for," a general told CNN.

The talks are a follow-up to a meeting between Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri and U.S. President George Bush in Washington last September, shortly after the attacks on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon.