New Zealand's decision to resume defence co-operation with Indonesia is under fire.

Defence ties have been severed since September 1999 after violence engulfed East Timor.

The Auckland-based Indonesia Human Rights Committee believes the proposed decision should have been open to public consultation.

Spokeswoman Maire Leadbeater says there are two good reasons why the ties should not be resumed.

She says the deaths of three New Zealanders along with 200, 000 East Timorese people should be enough to make them think twice.

Maire Leadbeater says only one person has been held to account for the 1999 violence and that is just not good enough.