PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA

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CAAT/TAPOL protest against use of UK-made Scorpion tanks in Aceh

8 May 2003

Campaign Against Arms Trade and TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, have today called on the British Government to protest against the use of UK-manufactured Scorpion tanks in renewed military operations due to commence in Aceh in a few days time.

In a letter to Minister of State Mike O'Brien, the two organisations said that it had been announced by the Indonesian armed forces, TNI, that thirteen Scorpion tanks were among the equipment being loaded onto warships destined for Aceh, along with thousands of additional troops, ready for battle.

They said: 'The use of UK-manufactured Scorpion tanks for the purposes of military operations in Aceh illustrates again that the government’s failure to revoke the export licences for the Scorpions in July 1997 has left the Indonesian military with equipment that can be used for internal repression. This is clearly contrary to the UK’s arms export criteria announced at the same time.'

The organisations called on the British Government to make immediate representations to the Indonesian Government for an assurance that no equipment supplied by the UK will be used in Aceh.

Finally, CAAT and TAPOL said: 'We take this opportunity of stating that the intention of the Indonesian armed forces, TNI, to launch a major military offensive in Aceh represents a grave threat to the safety and security of the Acehnese people and urge the British Government to exert utmost pressure on the Indonesian Government to halt these war preparations and to return to the negotiating table in renewed efforts to resolve the conflict in Aceh by means of dialogue.'

ENDS

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