Indonesia calms row over caning in M'sia

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The Indonesian government distanced itself Wednesday from an attack by national assembly chairman Amien Rais on what he called Malaysia's "inhumane" caning of illegal Indonesian migrant workers.

Visiting Justice Minister Yusril Ihza Mahendra said the criticism was a personal opinion and not the stand of the Indonesian government, which respected Malaysia's sovereignty, the official Bernama news agency reported.

Mahendra was speaking after a meeting on the migrant issue with Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also home minister.

More than 300,000 illegal immigrants fled Malaysia during a four-month amnesty which ended on August 1, but courts have since sentenced dozens of others to jail and caning.

Rais said on Sunday that caning was an ancient punishment and the Malaysian government's move to lash Indonesian workers was an "insult" to all Indonesia. AFP



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