RI-Britain forge closer defense ties

RI-Britain forge closer defense ties

JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto met with British Chief of
Defense Staff Field Marshall Peter Inge yesterday to solidify
defense ties between Jakarta and London.

Following his meeting with Soeharto at Bina Graha, Field
Marshall Inge told reporters that the prospects of future British
arms sales to Indonesia were promising.

"We are looking to sell certain things like Hawk aircraft and
Scorpions (armored vehicles)," said Inge who was accompanied by
Commander of the Armed Forces Gen. Feisal Tanjung.

His assurances come amid attempts by the U.S. congress to link
arms sales to Indonesia with the situation in East Timor.

Indonesia's plan to buy U.S. built F-5 fighters from Jordan
last year was blocked by the United States, and since then there
have been repeated attempts in the U.S. congress to limit arms
sales to Indonesia.

Responding to this, Indonesian military officials have pointed
out that Indonesia does not depend on a single supplier for its
weapons purchases.

Britain recently won a 500 million poundsterling (US$790
million) contract for the purchase of 24 Hawk ground-attack
fighters.

Known for its agility and dual role as a trainer and fighter
aircraft, the Hawks are expected to begin being delivered in
1996.

Gen. Feisal, who joined his British counterpart on a courtesy
call to President Soeharto, disclosed that a contract to buy the
British-made Scorpion armored vehicles would also be signed in
the near future.

These light tanks are currently being used by the New Zealand,
Belgian, Oman and Malaysian armies.

When queried on whether Indonesia would purchase additional
military hardware from Britain, Inge said that such a decision
was not his to make.

Nevertheless Gen. Feisal hinted that future purchases were
likely. "The possibility is always there but we'll have to see.
It all depends on the state budget," Feisal said.

Elaborating on the morning's meeting with the President,
Feisal revealed that the discussion centered around the
possibility of military training and increased cooperation
between the armed forces of the two countries.

He added that neither Inge nor Soeharto touched on the issue
of human rights.

When confronted with the issue of East Timor, Inge said that
during his four-day visit here which began on Sunday he was more
concerned with improving the working relationship between the
British and Indonesian armed forces.

"It is not for me to get involved in the politics of another
country," he said. (mds)