Human rights group lauds U.S. decision<\/p>\n
INDONESIA: A human rights group has praised the U.S. Congress
\nfor its refusal to lift a ban on sales of military equipment to
\nIndonesia, whose armed forces have been accused of widespread
\nabuses.<\/p>\n
"The Indonesian military is still a long way off from
\nconstituting a professional institution respectful of human
\nrights and fully accountable to civilian authority. We are very
\npleased that Congress recognizes this," the New York-based East
\nTimor and Indonesia Action Network said in a statement received
\non Saturday.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, a conference of Senate and House of
\nRepresentatives lawmakers agreed to maintain restrictions on
\nforeign military finance and on exports of lethal military
\nequipment to Indonesia until Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
\ncertifies that the Indonesian armed forces have met certain
\nconditions.<\/p>\n
These include prosecution and punishment of Indonesian
\npersonnel "who have been credibly alleged to have committed gross
\nviolations of human rights" in Indonesia and East Timor, and the
\nimplementation of reforms "to improve civilian control of the
\nmilitary." -- AP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/human-rights-group-lauds-us-decision-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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