Indonesian presidential candidate under fire for rights record

Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo Subianto was forced to defend his human rights record during his military career late Monday during the first debate ahead of the July 9 election.

Prabowo was accused of involvement in the kidnappings of dissidents during the last months of president Suharto's autocratic rule and deadly riots that precipitated the strongman's downfall in 1998.

"I take responsibility, and my conscience is clear. I am the strongest defender of human rights in this republic," Prabowo said. Prabowo, 62, was dismissed from the military after Suharto and later went into on voluntary exile in Jordan. He and frontrunning candidate Joko Widodo traded barbs during the nationally televised debate, discussing issues ranging from democracy to human rights. Prabowo insisted that he did what was necessary to save the lives of citizens from the threat of extremists.

"Maybe you, sir, don't understand, I was a soldier," he said. "Let my commander be the judge."