Indonesia's rights record remains poor: U.S.<\/p>\n
Associated Press, Washington<\/p>\n
Just two days after the United States moved to improve
\nmilitary ties with Indonesia, the State Department said on Monday
\nthe Jakarta government had a poor human rights record last year.<\/p>\n
Most of the abuses took place in areas of separatist violence,
\nthe department said in its annual report on human rights
\nconditions worldwide.<\/p>\n
"Security force members murdered, tortured, raped, beat and
\narbitrarily detained civilians and members of separatist
\nmovements, especially in Aceh and to a lesser extent in Papua,"
\nit said.<\/p>\n
Police sometimes used deadly force in arresting suspects and
\nin trying to obtain information or confessions, it said. Past and
\npresent military officers known to have committed abuses were
\npromoted to senior positions in the government and military.<\/p>\n
The report is certain to be used by members of Congress who
\noppose the Bush administration's moves to strengthen military
\nties with Jakarta.<\/p>\n
On Saturday, the State Department announced it had lifted
\nrestrictions on Indonesia's participation in a U.S. military
\ntraining program. The restrictions were imposed in 1992 after
\nmassacres of civilian protesters in East Timor, then a breakaway
\nIndonesian province.<\/p>\n
Later, the conditions were tied to Indonesia's cooperation in
\nthe investigation of the murders of two American teachers in
\nIndonesia's Papua province. The department said on Saturday that
\nSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice had determined that Jakarta
\nhas been cooperating.<\/p>\n
Monday's report praised Indonesia's move toward democratic
\ngovernment, the reduced political power of security forces and
\nefforts to criminalize domestic violence and fight trafficking in
\nhuman beings.<\/p>\n
It said serious problems remained, however. Indonesian prison
\nconditions were harsh, the judicial system was corrupt, and the
\ngovernment has arrested peaceful protesters. Journalists have
\ncome under increased pressure from the government, business
\nleaders and security forces, it said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesias-rights-record-remains-poor-us-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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