President Susilo regrets activist's beating

President Susilo regrets activist's beating

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he regretted the assault
against antigraft activist Farid Faqih (photo above), who
soldiers alleged had stolen relief aid in Aceh.

"The President does not want to see people take the law into
their own hands. If Farid was caught red-handed for a crime, he
should have been taken to the police," Cabinet Secretary Sudi
Silalahi told reporters at the State Palace. The president also
said he wanted Farid's case to be settled in accordance with the
law, said Sudi.

Separately, chief of the National Police Gen. Da'i Bachtiar
said that the investigators were still looking into the case.

"We are still probing whether the donated items were to be
distributed to tsunami victims or were going to be taken by Farid
for his own gain," said the four-star police general.

Farid, the coordinator of the Government Watch (GOWA), was
beaten by soldiers on Wednesday after he was accused of stealing
two truckloads of aid from the Iskandar Muda air base in Banda
Aceh. -- JP Full story on Page 2