Jusuf Kalla: The Government Will Re-Examine Namru 2

Not many Indonesians knew that Namru 2 even exists until Indonesian Minister of Health DR. Dr. Siti Fadilah Supari Sp.JP(K) made sudden inspection to its laboratory center last week. Dr. Siti got a hold for few minutes outside until she was allowed to enter the laboratory.

Naval Medical Research Unit 2 (Namru 2) been in Indonesia for the first time in 1968 to give recommendations on handling pest epidemic in Central Java. Two years later, Indonesia asked Namru 2 for recommendations in handling malaria in Papua. This time, Namru 2 asked for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to do the cooperation with Indonesia. Indonesia agreed and MoU signed for 35 years term and would be revised every 10 years. Due to that MoU, Namru 2 had license to do the medical research in Indonesia. That MoU gave extra privileges to Namru 2's staffs. 20 staffs got diplomatic immunity, customs free and residences.

The MoU ended in 2005. Indonesia through minister of health had given Naval 2 written decision in November 2005 that the MoU would not be extended. The minister thought the MoU only benefited Namru 2. Extra privileges, intransparency and many unpublished research documents while all specimens is from Indonesian territory are the reasons for the extinction of MoU.

Namru 2 was stalling. For the last 2 years, US Embassy has been actively lobbying Department of Health and Department of Foreign Affairs to extend its operation in Indonesia. The negotiation is still in progress. Namru 2 in Indonesia is the Namru 2 HQ for South East Asia Area since its former HQ in Philippine was closed in 1990.

Dr. Siti came to Namru 2's laboratory to redeclare that Namru 2 and all its research would be temporarily closed until new agreement reached. Some intelligent observers make opinions that with its extra privileges and intransparency, Namru 2 could be used as a cover to do intelligent operations. Why US Embassy so determine to protect its existence in Indonesia also being questioned.

Indonesian Vice President H.M. Jusuf Kalla, after Friday Pray in Makassar, told the journalists that the negotiation is in progress and the government will re-examine the existence of Namru 2 in Indonesia (source: gatra.com). He said that Indonesia is open to work together with any organization for good purposes in the right way. The deadlock is about the diplomatic status of its staffs. US wants 20 persons have diplomatic immunity while Indonesia only limits to 2 persons since the relation with Namru 2 is nothing to do with diplomatic but only a health research. Indonesia also insists that naval doctors from Indonesia allowed to do the supervision.

My opinion; I agree with vice president that any cooperation for good purposes is ok but it must be in the right way. I'm sure from all the facts that US had been using Namru 2 for intelligent operations but not to have much worry about that. CIA is not that good. There is no Ethan Hunt out there.

Back to Home

Read More...