U.S. says Indonesia used excessive force<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON (Agencies): The United States on Wednesday said
\nIndonesian security forces has used excessive force against
\nunarmed demonstrators and urged the government to bring those
\nresponsible to justice quickly.<\/p>\n
State Department spokesman James Rubin said the \"terrible
\nviolence\" that marked protests on Nov. 13-14 \"clearly involved
\nexcessive use of force by security forces against unarmed
\ndemonstrators,\" Reuters reported.<\/p>\n
Jakarta has said it would fully probe the situation and \"we
\nurge the Indonesian government to carry out this investigation
\nexpeditiously and to bring to justice those responsible for the
\nkillings and other abuses,\" he said in a written statement.<\/p>\n
At least 30 people have been killed in protests and riots in
\nthe past two weeks in some of the worst violence in the capital
\nsince May, when at least 1,200 died.<\/p>\n
Rubin noted that large political demonstrations in Jakarta
\nover the last few days have proceeded peacefully and he urged all
\nfacets of Indonesian society to maintain restraint.<\/p>\n
As the country moves through a difficult reform period toward
\n\"true democracy, we expect the Indonesian government to respect
\nfully the rights of Indonesian citizens to freedom of speech and
\nassembly,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"We urge students and the public to keep their demonstrations
\npeaceful and the security forces to refrain from violence so that
\nthere is no repetition of the events of Nov. 13-14,\" he added.<\/p>\n
In Canberra, Australian Defense Minister John Moore also urged
\nIndonesian troops to show restraint when dealing with protesters
\ncalling for greater democracy.<\/p>\n
\"We look to them to exercise restraint at all times, but we
\nunderstand they have to keep law and order,\" Moore said before
\nembarking on a visit to Indonesia on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Australian government on Wednesday renewed its
\nwarning to its citizens to consider deferring non-essential
\ntravel to Jakarta in view of violent demonstrations and instances
\nof looting in the Indonesian capital and other cities in recent
\nweeks.<\/p>\n
\"Demonstrations are expected to continue and there is a
\npossibility that these could become the trigger for acts of
\nlawlessness and possible loss of life,\" it said in a travel
\nadvisory, a copy of which was made available to the press.<\/p>\n
The advisory noted that Bali, a popular destination for
\nAustralian tourists, appeared to be unaffected. \"Bali remains
\ncalm and services for tourists are operating normally.\"<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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