U.S. report criticizes RI record

U.S. report criticizes RI record

WASHINGTON (Agencies): The Indonesian government is rife with
corruption, commits serious human rights abuses and uses
excessive force in its crackdown on insurgents, the U.S. State
Department said in a report published on Thursday.

But the department's annual human rights survey of 194
countries and territories saw "encouraging signs along with
substantial grounds for continuing concern" in Indonesia, AFP
reported.

No one at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in
Jakarta was available to comment on the report yesterday.

The report found that the fruits of Indonesia's booming
economy are widely dispersed but that "pervasive corruption
remains a problem."

And while there was a decline in arbitrary executions and a
decrease in serious incidents in East Timor, "killings of unarmed
civilians, disappearances, and torture and mistreatment of
detainees by security forces continued," the report said.

Authorities also maintained their tight grip on the political
process and denied "citizens the ability to change their
government democratically," according to the report.

Discrimination against women and the disabled and violence
against women are "endemic problems," said the report which also
found that security forces displayed improved discipline in
responding to unrest in Irian Jaya.

No progress was made, however, in accounting for those missing
in the 1991 and 1995 crackdowns in East Timor, the report said.

In East Timor, "there were further instances of killings,
disappearances, torture and excessive use of force by the
military and insurgents," it said.

"Respected observers noted a decrease in serious incidents but
1996 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate Bishop Belo said it would be a
mistake to conclude that the human rights environment in East
Timor was improving," the report said.

The report faulted the government for continuing "to impose
severe limitations on freedom of assembly and association" and
said "in anticipation of the 1997 parliamentary elections, the
government took a number of actions to intimidate political
opponents."

New Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, in a briefing after
the publication of the report, said human rights will remain a
"key element" in U.S. foreign policy.

She said she had a particular concern about religious
persecution around the world, especially in China where the
practice had increased, Reuters said.

"When human rights standards are observed, sustainable
economic progress is more likely, violent conflicts are easier to
prevent, terrorists and criminals find it harder to operate and
societies are more fully able to benefit from the skills and
energy of their citizens," Albright said.

"In such an environment, Americans are safer and we are more
likely to find partners with whom to pursue shared economic,
diplomatic and security goals. That is why human rights are and
will remain a key element in our foreign policy, both in our
bilateral relations and in our leadership within international
organizations," she said.

On religious persecution and intolerance, she said: "In too
many countries from Sudan, to Vietnam, to Iran, this form of
repression persists; in a few including China, it has increased."

She added: "Whatever your culture, whatever your creed, the
right to worship is basic."

In Jakarta, the National Commission on Human Rights said it
would look into the State Department's report concerning
Indonesia's human rights record, Antara reported.

Deputy chairperson Miriam Budiarjo advised that the Indonesian
government responded to the accusations instead of dismissing the
report as intruding in Indonesia's domestic affairs, a line it
has taken in the past.

"So far, the government has not reacted to such reports. It
would be more positive if the government responded," Miriam said.

She said the report would be used by the U.S. administration
and congress in considering future economic aid to Indonesia.

Negative reports about Indonesia's policy in East Timor forced
the U.S. administration last year to delay its plan to sell a
number of F-16 fighters to Indonesia to this year.

Frank Wolf -- Page 2