RI's $420m jet bill covered<\/p>\n
LONDON (AFP): The British government will cover the US$420
\nmillion bill for the sale of Hawk jets to Indonesia after the
\nbeleaguered state said it was unable to keep up payments on its
\ndebt, it was reported Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Independent newspaper said that despite this, London was
\nprepared to go ahead with a further delivery of 16 Hawks worth
\nhalf a billion dollars next year.<\/p>\n
The paper said that the jet manufacturer British Aerospace had
\nreceived a guarantee from the government that it would pay
\nwhatever parts of the debts it was unable to recover from
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The sale of the jets has already been a controversial issue
\nfor Tony Blair's Labor government.<\/p>\n
On its election in May 1997, Foreign Secretary Robin Cook said
\nthe new administration would promote a foreign policy with human
\nrights at its core.<\/p>\n
The continued export of arms to repressive regimes has been
\nroundly criticized by human rights groups and by left wing Labor
\nMPs.<\/p>\n
The Independent said that Indonesia's total debt to Britain
\nunder the country's Export Credit Guarantee Scheme stood at
\nUS$2.9 billion, of which just under half is for arms.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ris-420m-jet-bill-covered-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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