Human rights group lauds U.S. decision

Human rights group lauds U.S. decision

INDONESIA: A human rights group has praised the U.S. Congress
for its refusal to lift a ban on sales of military equipment to
Indonesia, whose armed forces have been accused of widespread
abuses.

"The Indonesian military is still a long way off from
constituting a professional institution respectful of human
rights and fully accountable to civilian authority. We are very
pleased that Congress recognizes this," the New York-based East
Timor and Indonesia Action Network said in a statement received
on Saturday.

On Tuesday, a conference of Senate and House of
Representatives lawmakers agreed to maintain restrictions on
foreign military finance and on exports of lethal military
equipment to Indonesia until Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice
certifies that the Indonesian armed forces have met certain
conditions.

These include prosecution and punishment of Indonesian
personnel "who have been credibly alleged to have committed gross
violations of human rights" in Indonesia and East Timor, and the
implementation of reforms "to improve civilian control of the
military." -- AP