From: John MacDougall <apakabar@clark.net>
Forwarded message:
From apakabar@igc.apc.org Thu Oct 13 13:57 EDT 1994
Date: Thu, 13 Oct 1994 10:57:18 -0700
From: Indonesia Publications/Task Force Indonesia <apakabar@igc.apc.org>
Message-Id: <199410131757.KAA02247@igc.apc.org>
To: apakabar@clark.net
Subject: IN: Outrage Over Scorpions
Content-Type: text
Content-Length: 3190
/* Written 4:11 PM Oct 13, 1994 by gn:tapol in igc:reg.easttimor */
/* ---------- "TAPOL condemns Scorpion deal" ---------- */
TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign, issued the
following press release today, October 13, 1994:
PROPOSED UK SCORPIONS SALE TO INDONESIA
GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO AN AGGRESSOR STATE
TAPOL has learned with deep dismay that negotiations are
under way for the sale by the UK of Scorpion reconnaisance
tanks to the Indonesian armed forces. The deal was
discussed yesterday in Jakarta between the British chief of
defence staff, Field Marshal Sir Peter Inge, and Indonesia's
ruler, President Suharto. After the meeting, the commander
of the Indonesian armed forces, General Feisal Tanjung, told
the press the Scorpion contract would be signed "in the near
future".
The Scorpion, a light tank described in the literature of the
manufacturers, Alvis, as 'a real advance in reconnaissance',
is a highly manoeuvrable vehicle suitable for use in tropical
climates. One of its more obvious uses by the Indonesian
armed forces would be in the war currently being waged by
the Indonesian armed forces against the armed resistance in
East Timor. In the past month, there have been a number of
battles in East Timor in which both the guerrilla forces and
the forces of occupation suffered casualties.
The Suharto regime has also used brute force recently
against peaceful demonstrators in Jakarta, protesting against
the banning of three major political weeklies. These tanks
could also be used in a show of force against demonstrations
in the streets.
A report leaked to TAPOL two months ago revealed that an
Alvis executive was on his way to Indonesia to negotiate a
deal worth around 150 million. There is every reason to
believe that this is the Scorpion deal announced yesterday in
Jakarta. 150 million could buy up to two hundred tanks.The
company has stone-walled all inquiries about the deal since
September, knowing that leaks would stir up opposition in
Britain where concern about Indonesia~s illegal occupation
of East Timor has escalated in the past two years.
Earlier this year, Alvis won a contract worth 10 million to
refurbish Ferret, Saladin and Saracen armoured vehicles
supplied to Indonesia in the 1970s. It has been established
that these vehicles were used against student demonstrators
in 1978 and could be used again.
Sir Peter Inge also announced the possible sale of a further
sixteen Hawk aircraft to Indonesia, bringing the total number
of Hawks sold to Indonesia since last year to forty.
Carmel Budiardjo of TAPOL said: 'It is an outrage that a
British manufacturer should already have reached an
advanced stage in negotiations for the sale of Scorpions to a
state in illegal occupation of a neighbouring country, in
defiance of ten UN resolutions. It suggests that the British
government has given the company the go-ahead and that a
licence for the deal will be forthcoming. We urge the
government not to issue a licence for this Scorpion deal and
to stop all other arms sales to Indonesia. By allowing all
these deals, the British government is giving the green light
to Jakarta's continued war of aggression against East Timor.