U.N. body says torture widespread in Indonesia

17/05/2008 09:57:09

A UN rights body says Indonesia's police, armed forces and intelligence services routinely torture and degrade criminal suspects to extract confessions.

The U.N. Committee Against Torture says it is "deeply concerned about numerous ongoing credible and consistent allegations" of abuse in the Indonesian justice system.

In a report released in Geneva the 10-member independent panel says military officials and police have used disproportionate force and violence, particularly against women, in the Aceh province and other areas of conflict.

It says attacks on ethnic and religious minorities remains a problem in Indonesia.

The committee says no state official accused of perpetrating torture has been found guilty, this despite efforts to combat rights abuses.

The UN panel has called on Jakarta to take immediate steps to uphold legal safeguards for those taken into custody.

Produced by Radio Australia and Australia Network