Subject: AN: Wahid
stands up for military over rights abuses
President stands up for military over
rights abuses
Antara
Jakarta, 10th March: President
Abdurrahman Wahid said on Friday he could not totally accept the wishes of
many parties to put the blame on the Indonesian Defence Forces (TNI) for
the alleged human right abuses in East Timor.
"I could not accept if the military
is blamed (for last year's mass violence) in East Timor, so that it must
be wiped and punished," the president said after signing a document
on the establishment of Joint Movement for the Indonesian Micro-Financial
Development at the State Palace.
The head of state said the innocent
militarymen could not be punished.
"Those found guilty must be
punished, but the innocent ones must not," he said at the function
also attended by Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Basri
Hasanuddin, State Minister for Social Services Anak Agung Gde Agung and
State Minister for Women's Empowerment Kofifah Indar Parawangsa...
