Letitia Stein, Washington – A human rights group has filed suit against Exxon Mobil, accusing the world's largest oil company of rights abuses in Indonesia. The company has denied the allegations.

The International Labour Rights Fund filed the suit in federal court on Wednesday, alleging that Exxon Mobil knowingly abetted human rights violations against villagers in Indonesia which were committed by local security forces hired to protect its natural gas fields.

According to the suit, Exxon Mobil hired the forces to protect its gas fields in the rebellious province of Aceh, where separatists have been seeking independence for decades. The company blamed security incidents for its March decision to close three fields there.

The rights group sued on behalf of 11 villagers in Aceh, who said Exxon Mobil complicity aided in genocide, murder, torture and sexual abuse at the hands of local security forces employed by the company. The lawsuit alleged that Exxon Mobil provided equipment for the digging of mass graves and supported the construction of facilities where the villagers were interrogated and tortured.

"This is the first time we actually have evidence that the oil company has supported the instrumentality for the human rights violations," said Terry Collingsworth, general counsel of the International Labour Rights Fund.

Exxon Mobil rejected the charges and said it condemned human rights abuses in any form. "Our company rejects and categorically denies any suggestion or implication that it or its affiliate companies were in any way involved with alleged human rights abuses by security forces in Aceh," a company statement said.

Exxon Mobil Indonesia, a unit of the US-based Exxon Mobil Corp., is Indonesia's second-largest producer of liquefied natural gas with total output of 1.66 billion cubic feet per day. The company planned to reopen the fields in Aceh as soon as possible.

The lawsuit against Exxon Mobil follows similar legal action against oil companies including Unocal, and Dutch Royal/Shell for alleged human rights abuses in the developing world.