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