Jakarta – The government of President Megawati Sukarnoputri has restored some political stability but failed to address human rights abuses by the military and endemic corruption, Human Rights Watch saidTuesday in its annual report.

The watchdog said human rights campaigners faced increased ersecution especially in the rebellious provinces of Aceh and Papua.

"Despite restoring some political stability to Indonesia during its year and a half in office, the administration of President Megawati Sukarnoputrifailed to deal with several major human rights challenges," the group said, as quoted by AFP. The government made only half-hearted attemps to hold the military accountable for human rights abuses in East Timor in 1999, the rights watchdog said.

The watchdog criticized Indonesia human right tribunal which failed to bring East Timor violators to jail, the trial of Bank Indonesi Governor Sjahril Sabirin and that of Speaker of the House of Representatives Akbar Tandjung.

Sjahril was sentenced to three years in jail for graft but later acquitted by a high court. Akbar, who was sentenced to four years in jail for graft, is currently appealing to a high court. Both remains in their positions.