PROMOTING HUMAN RIGHTS, PEACE AND DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA

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Massive rise in UK arms sales boosts Indonesia's war in Aceh: NGOs demand explanation

The following press release was issued jointly by TAPOL and Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT)

10 July 2003

A report published last week suggests the British Government is supplying substantial quantities of military equipment to the Indonesia armed forces, TNI, for use in its brutal war in the province of Aceh, which has already claimed dozens of civilian casualties.

A huge increase in British arms sales to Indonesia was revealed in the Government's 2002 annual report on military exports just as Hawk jets and Scorpion tanks are being used in Aceh in flagrant breach of 'assurances' that they would not be used for offensive or counter-insurgency purposes.

The London-based organisations, TAPOL the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign and Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) have today written an open letter to Foreign Office minister, Mike O'Brien, demanding an explanation.

Spokesperson, Paul Barber, says: "We are appalled by this escalation of arms sales to Indonesia at a time when innocent civilians are being slaughtered in Aceh. It is clear that the British Government is not concerned about human rights, but for commercial reasons is determined to strengthen military relations with Indonesia at all costs."

The number of licences rose from 54 in 2001 to 182 in 2002, by far the highest number of licences issued for Indonesia in the last ten years and almost double the previous highest of 99 in 1996.

The value of the licences increased 20-fold over two years from £2 million in 2000 to £15.5 million in 2001 to £41 million in 2002, several times greater than its nearest European Union competitor.

Equipment licensed for export included aircraft cannons; armoured all wheel drive vehicles; and components or equipment associated with air to air/air to surface missile launching equipment, armoured fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, combat aircraft, combat helicopters and general military aircraft.

It is likely that a substantial quantity of this equipment is for the Hawks and Scorpions being used in Aceh.

TAPOL and CAAT believe the reason for the massive increase in arms exports is connected with the TNI's wish to upgrade its offensive capabilities in areas of conflict such as Aceh and West Papua. An Indonesian Defence White Paper recently stated that the main tasks of the TNI are domestic, including the suppression of separatism, and that the threat of external aggression against Indonesia is negligible.

The organisations warn that the TNI is on the offensive politically as well as militarily and that the period of reformasi, which followed the downfall of Suharto, has now come to an end. For all these reasons they insist the increase in military sales is indefensible.

In their letter, TAPOL and CAAT repeat their call for a military embargo against Indonesia set out in a statement signed by over 90 NGOs worldwide on 23 June.

ENDS

See also '90 groups worldwide demand military embargo on Indonesia'

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