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