The spy nest

In 1968, when the sampar plague hit Central Java, Indonesia called on the United States for help. The US then dispatched its Naval Medical Research Unit or NAMRU2, which gave successful recommendations to eradicate the deadly disease. Then in 1970, Indonesia called on the US again for help to fight malaria in Papua. A memorandum of understanding was signed between Indonesian Health Minister GA Siwabessy and US Ambassador Francis Galbraith to secure NAMRU2’s presence in Indonesia. In the 1990s, when malaria was finally eradicated, NAMRU2’s presence continued in Indonesia. In 1991, the US promoted NAMRU2’s level from a mere military health detachment of the US Navy to a full command operations status (intelligence operations?), following the closure of NAMRU2 based in the Philippines in 1994. Since then, with the help of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) expanded NAMRU2’s function to conduct research on contagious diseases for all of the Southeast Asian region. Then in 1998, Armed Forces Commander Gen. Wiranto urged the government to halt NAMRU2’s operations on grounds that its presence on Indonesian soil posed a threat to national defense and security. Gen. Wiranto noted that 23 NAMRU2 researchers were given diplomatic immunity and free to wander all over Indonesia to carry out their activities (why didn’t he stop it?). In 1999, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas sent a letter to President BJ Habibie informing him that NAMRU2’s operations are related to the military aspect of the Biological Weapons Verification Protocol. Now, after forty years of NAMRU2’s presence, Indonesian believe its function is no longer needed (but Indonesia doesn’t have the guts to tell the US!). Its legal binding with Indonesia has ended. But NAMRU2’s operations continued. AC Manulang a former head of Indonesian intelligence said NAMRU2 is currently carrying out the role of America’s neo-liberalism policy by carrying out espionage activities under the camouflage of research purposes. Current intelligence chief declined to state whether NAMRU2 is associated with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) but confirmed the US military research unit carried out intelligence practices and that it’s presence is being evaluated (why not a recommendation to close the facilities?). US Ambassador to Indonesia Cameron Hume denied such allegations but Health Minister Siti Fadillah Supari accused NAMRU2 of trampling over Indonesia’s sovereignty. She ordered all hospitals to stop providing samples, including bird flu samples to NAMRU2 (bird flu research samples made US pharmaceutical firms rich). She said NAMRU2 has its own programs and carry out its activities without informing results of their research to the Indonesian authorities. But it seems that officials, members of parliament and Indonesians in general are powerless against US neo-liberalism interests while all information about Indonesia is already in the hands of a foreign power (when will Indonesia realize and rise?).