UK opposes use of Hawk warplanes in Aceh<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The British government has questioned the use of HS-Hawk
\nwarplanes by Indonesia during the military operation against
\nrebels in Aceh, saying the pre-purchase deal restricted the
\nplanes from offensive missions.<\/p>\n
Visiting British Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien voiced
\nhis government's complaint during talks with Indonesian Minister
\nof Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\"The U.K. considers the participation of Hawk aircraft in the
\nongoing military operation in Aceh a violation of a previous
\nagreement,\" Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Marty
\nNatalegawa said after the meeting.<\/p>\n
However, Jakarta dismissed the complaint, saying that the
\ncurrent government did not acknowledge the existence of such a
\ndeal before purchasing the aircraft in 1996.<\/p>\n
\"We do not recognize such a deal. Even if it exists, the
\noperation in Aceh is not an offensive strike, but our move to
\nmaintain our sovereignty,\" Marty remarked.<\/p>\n
Indonesia bought 24 Hawks in 1996, under a \"gentlemen
\nagreement\" that would keep the country from using them in dealing
\nwith the insurgency in East Timor.<\/p>\n
East Timor broke away from Indonesia in 1999 after a United
\nNations-sponsored referendum resulted in an overwhelming vote for
\nindependence.<\/p>\n
Unlike in East Timor, Indonesia has the support of the
\ninternational community over its sovereignty in Aceh, although
\nthere is broad concern about the use of military force.<\/p>\n
British media reported earlier that Britain had repeatedly
\nwarned Indonesia against using the aircraft in any offensive
\noperation in the natural resource-rich province.<\/p>\n
\"Senior members of the Indonesian government and the military
\nhave repeatedly promised that British-supplied equipment would
\nnot be used offensively or in violation of human rights anywhere
\nin Indonesia,\" an official said as quoted by The Guardian.<\/p>\n
The newspaper also reported that the Indonesian Military (TNI)
\nsent four Hawks to provide air protection for the soldiers on the
\nfirst day of the imposition of martial law in Aceh on May 19.<\/p>\n
Marty underlined that the gentlemen agreement signed by the
\ntwo governments in 1996 specifically dealt with East Timor and
\nnot Aceh.<\/p>\n
\"What we are doing in Aceh is not an offensive operation and
\nit cannot be categorized as that,\" Marty said.<\/p>\n
During the meeting, Indonesia questioned the purpose of
\nBritain's move, according to Marty.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia did not buy the planes just for an aerobatics
\nperformance on TNI anniversary of TNI every Oct. 5.<\/p>\n
\"The main point is that should we, as a sovereign country
\nbought the equipment with good intention, fall under the control
\nof the producing country over its usage,\" Marty said.<\/p>\n
O'Brien is making a three-day visit to Indonesia and is slated
\nto speak at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies
\n(CSIS) on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
After the meeting with Hassan, O'Brien said he had received a
\nfull briefing regarding the latest situation in Aceh and steps
\nthat Jakarta had taken in dealing with the separatist movement.<\/p>\n
He said the two ministers also discussed a number of issues,
\nincluding developments in Iraq and counterterrorism cooperation
\nbetween the two countries.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/uk-opposes-use-of-hawk-warplanes-in-aceh-1447893297",
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