U.S. says Indonesia used excessive force

U.S. says Indonesia used excessive force

WASHINGTON (Agencies): The United States on Wednesday said
Indonesian security forces has used excessive force against
unarmed demonstrators and urged the government to bring those
responsible to justice quickly.

State Department spokesman James Rubin said the "terrible
violence" that marked protests on Nov. 13-14 "clearly involved
excessive use of force by security forces against unarmed
demonstrators," Reuters reported.

Jakarta has said it would fully probe the situation and "we
urge the Indonesian government to carry out this investigation
expeditiously and to bring to justice those responsible for the
killings and other abuses," he said in a written statement.

At least 30 people have been killed in protests and riots in
the past two weeks in some of the worst violence in the capital
since May, when at least 1,200 died.

Rubin noted that large political demonstrations in Jakarta
over the last few days have proceeded peacefully and he urged all
facets of Indonesian society to maintain restraint.

As the country moves through a difficult reform period toward
"true democracy, we expect the Indonesian government to respect
fully the rights of Indonesian citizens to freedom of speech and
assembly," he said.

"We urge students and the public to keep their demonstrations
peaceful and the security forces to refrain from violence so that
there is no repetition of the events of Nov. 13-14," he added.

In Canberra, Australian Defense Minister John Moore also urged
Indonesian troops to show restraint when dealing with protesters
calling for greater democracy.

"We look to them to exercise restraint at all times, but we
understand they have to keep law and order," Moore said before
embarking on a visit to Indonesia on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Australian government on Wednesday renewed its
warning to its citizens to consider deferring non-essential
travel to Jakarta in view of violent demonstrations and instances
of looting in the Indonesian capital and other cities in recent
weeks.

"Demonstrations are expected to continue and there is a
possibility that these could become the trigger for acts of
lawlessness and possible loss of life," it said in a travel
advisory, a copy of which was made available to the press.

The advisory noted that Bali, a popular destination for
Australian tourists, appeared to be unaffected. "Bali remains
calm and services for tourists are operating normally."