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