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Closer UK defence ties threaten fight against military terror in Indonesia

TAPOL Press release - March 31, 2006

The announcement during British Prime Minister Tony Blair's visit to Indonesia yesterday that the two countries plan to strengthen military and anti-terror ties is a blow to Indonesian democracy and human rights, says TAPOL, the Indonesia Human Rights Campaign.

"The main beneficiaries will be the Indonesian security forces, which are still the main perpetrators of terror in the country," said Paul Barber, a spokesperson for TAPOL.

"This political endorsement of their role will serve as a disincentive for urgently-needed reform," he added.

Currently in the military's firing line is the disputed territory of West Papua where Indonesian rule is strongly contested and a military build-up is underway.

'Security forces continued to commit unlawful killings...and to employ torture and other forms of abuse,' while the government 'largely failed to hold soldiers and police accountable,' said the US State Department in a report last year.

The effect of Blair's initiative is not immediately clear since Britain and Indonesia already enjoy unrestricted military ties. Britain has been one of Indonesia's largest arms suppliers for many years and in 2005 licensed over #12.5 million of arms exports, ranging from gun silencers to combat aircraft parts.

British-supplied Tactica armoured vehicles fitted with water cannon are currently deployed in West Papua. There they are being used in a highly volatile political situation in which the security forces routinely violate human rights and use excessive force. TAPOL has demanded the withdrawal of the vehicles.

Last year, Foreign Office Minister, Ian Pearson, revealed that the UK "no longer seeks guarantees or assurances" that UK weaponry will not be used to abuse human rights, since such assurances "are not enforceable", effectively admitting that TAPOL and others were right all along to assert that such assurances are worthless.

East Timor's Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation recently recommended that military support for Indonesia should be 'totally conditional on progress towards full democratisation, the subordination of the military to the rule of law and civilian government, and strict adherence with international human rights, including respect for the right of self-determination.' The British government has failed to respond to the recommendation and already appears to be ignoring it.

The military is the main stumbling block in the way of Indonesia's transition to genuine democracy despite the democratic advances made since the downfall of Suharto and the achievement of peace in Aceh. It remains a powerful institution largely unaccountable to the civilian authorities and over-reliant on legal and illegal business activities for the bulk of its income. It refuses to abandon its territorial command structure, which is regarded as a lucrative money-making machine particularly in resource-rich areas such as West Papua.

Contact: Paul Barber on 01420 80153 or 0774 730 1739

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