EU decides to drop its arms embargo against Indonesia

EU decides to drop its arms embargo against Indonesia

BRUSSELS (Agencies): The European Union decided not to renew an arms embargo against Indonesia which expired on Monday, but voiced concern about the violence sweeping the archipelago.

The 15-nation EU adopted a four-month embargo on arms sales to Indonesia in September following the outbreak of violence in East Timor. The embargo was due for review when it expired on Monday.

The EU banned all sales of arms, munitions, military equipment and other goods "which may be used for internal repression." The EU also suspended military cooperation.

In a statement issued by current EU president Portugal, the European bloc said it believed the embargo imposed on the previous Indonesian government "need not be renewed."

But it said it would strictly implement the EU code of conduct on arms exports, adopted in 1998.

The code of conduct sets eight criteria which countries must take account of when deciding whether to approve arms exports.

It includes refusal to issue an export license if there is a "clear risk" the equipment will be used for internal repression.

In Monday's statement, the EU noted the "historic changes" of the last few months in Indonesia, which held its first contested presidential elections last October.

The EU expressed strong support for President Abdurrahman Wahid government.

In its statement, the EU offered its backing for Abdurrahman's efforts "to strengthen the country's democracy, to reform the military and judicial systems, to restore the vitality of its economy and to solve its internal conflicts through dialogue rather than force."

But the EU said it was deeply concerned at the "appalling violence" in Maluku, tensions in Irian Jaya and the persisting conflict in Aceh.

It also underlined the need to ensure accountability for past human rights abuses and meet international concern about refugees remaining in West Timor.

The ban was lifted automatically after four months despite objections from the human rights group Amnesty International, which said lifting the embargo would be "grossly irresponsible."

"While East Timor is now secure, similar patterns of intimidation and killing which shocked the world ... are being repeated in parts of Indonesia," the group said in a statement Friday.

"How can the EU be confident that transfers of armored personnel carriers, machine-guns and internal security equipment will not be used to commit human rights violations," Amnesty International said.