Britain's arms sales ban played down

JAKARTA (JP): Britain's ban on certain arms sales to Indonesia will not create any problems for the country, Commander of Armed Forces (ABRI) Gen. Feisal Tanjung said yesterday.

Feisal said that arms purchase was not a priority for the government's development program and Indonesia could easily fulfill its military needs from the international market.

"Britain is not the only country to sell arms, there are many countries ready to offer them to us," Feisal said after meeting with President Soeharto at Merdeka Palace.

Britain is one of Indonesia's biggest sources of weapons. In 1996 about half of the UK's exports to Jakarta, worth US$1.3 billion, were defense sales.

The British Labour government announced last week that export licenses had been refused for a 1 million (US$1.6 million) shipment of armored personnel carriers and sniper rifles to Indonesia last month. The contract for its sales was signed after the Labour Party was elected in May.

Britain, however, exempted from the new arms sales policy the contract of 16 Hawk jet fighters and light tanks, worth $496 million, set by the previous Conservative government.

Human rights groups said British arms have been used to crack down internal dissent, especially in East Timor.

"All the Hawks have arrived here and we do not have any other agreement on Hawks," Feisal said.

The Labour Party pledged in its campaign in May not to sell British weapons to countries where they might be used for "unwanted plans".

AFP reported yesterday that Prime Minister Tony Blair had told his Foreign Secretary Robin Cook to moderate his policy of blocking arms sales.

During his meeting with President Soeharto on Aug. 29, Cook told Soeharto that the government should be more willing to listen to the views of the people of East Timor.

"Britain has recently reviewed our criteria for arms sales... and the criteria will be applied to Indonesia on the same basis as any other country," Cook said.

Officials have said that Indonesia would not bow to other country's interference in its internal affairs.

"Before buying arms, we take all aspects into consideration including our budgetary situation," Feisal said. (prb)