NEW YORK -(Dow Jones)- The Bush administration is pressing to resume aid to the Indonesian military after nearly a decade of keeping its distance from the Indonesian Army because of its human-rights abuses, The New York Times reported in its Saturday editions. The arrest this month in Jakarta of a suspected al-Qaida operative strengthened the White House's determination, The Times reported on its Web site. According to the paper, the administration is using the argument that Indonesia, a reluctant partner in the crackdown on terrorism, should be rewarded for its support with military aid.
The suspect, Omar al-Faruq, was turned over to the U.S. and is being held at an undisclosed location, The Times said.
The Bush administration is pushing Congress to provide financing for a new " command and control" unit for the Indonesian Army, and congressional opposition has weakened, The Times reported.