STATE SPOKESMAN ON DEMONSTRATIONS IN INDONESIA
USIA
25 November 1998
TEXT: STATE SPOKESMAN ON DEMONSTRATIONS IN INDONESIA
(U.S. urges all sides to refrain from violence) (210)
Washington -- Following is the State Department text:
(begin text)
U~S DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
November 25, 1998
STATEMENT BY JAMES P. RUBIN, SPOKESMAN
INDONESIA -- DEMONSTRATIONS
The US notes that large political demonstrations in Jakarta over the
last few days have proceeded peacefully, with no return to the
terrible violence that marked the November 13-14 protests in
connection with the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). We note the
Indonesian Government's declared intention to fully investigate that
violence, which clearly involved excessive use of force by security
forces against unarmed demonstrators. We urge the Indonesian
Government to carry out this investigation expeditiously and to bring
to justice those responsible for the killings and other abuses.
Indonesia is moving through a difficult reform period toward a goal of
true democracy. We expect the Indonesian government to respect fully
the rights of Indonesian citizens to freedom of speech and assembly.
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 November 13-14.
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