TNI deploys British tanks to Aceh

TNI deploys British tanks to Aceh

The Jakarta Post, Lhokseumawe, Aceh

Three dozen British-made Scorpion tanks have joined Indonesian
troops in Aceh to fight local separatists, risking further
dispute with the European country.

The heavily armed tanks arrived on Sunday as part of the
reinforcements from the West Java-based First Cavalry Battalion
of the Army Strategic Reserves Command (Kostrad).

Aceh Military Operation Commander Brig. Gen. Bambang Darmono
said the tanks would help safeguard Aceh's main roads from
ambushes by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

The small-sized tanks are designed for combat in city areas,
boasting high maneuverability and speed.

Their deployment, however, could stir protest from Britain,
which sold them under the agreement that the tanks would not be
used to fight local separatists.

When asked about the possible breach of contract, Bambang said
"If they are already here, it means that the Indonesian Military
(TNI) has carefully considered it."

The British government has complained to Indonesia over the
deployment of Hawk jets imported from the European country to
bombard Aceh rebel positions, saying it violated the pre-purchase
deal. Britain also warned that its military cooperation with
Indonesia would be undermined due to the use of warplanes in
Aceh.

Visiting British Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien said
early this month that there was a pre-purchase agreement between
the two countries stipulating the Hawks could be used only in
"particular circumstances".

Despite the warning, the Indonesian Air Force said it would
continue using the jets to provide air cover for government
troops who are intensifying their offensive on rebel bases.

A Britain-based human rights group, the Campaign Against Arms
Trade (CATT) and the Indonesian Human Rights Campaign (Tapol),
wrote to O'Brien last month regarding the possible use of
Scorpion tanks to support the military operation in Aceh.

"The use of UK-manufactured Scorpion tanks for the purpose of
military operations in Aceh again illustrates that the
government's failure to revoke the export licenses for the
Scorpions in July 1997 has left the Indonesian Military with
equipment that can be used for internal repression. This is
clearly contrary to the UK's arms export criteria announced at
the same time," the human rights campaigners said.

The tanks' arrival will add to the fire power of the Army,
which has been fighting the war without their own tanks. So far,
only the Navy's Marines have used tanks, allowing them to
penetrate GAM-controlled areas.

The Aceh martial law administrator announced that 18 clashes
had been recorded on Sunday in which six rebels were killed and
two were arrested, while 22 others surrendered to authorities.

Military spokesman Col. Ditya Soedarsono also said five bodies
were discovered in five separate locations on Sunday.

Ditya said government troops had so far killed 255
separatists, detained another 535, including 222 who had
surrendered to the security authorities since the military
offensive commenced on May 19.

Sixteen rebels, including their local commander, Sahrul, from
Ruap village, Central Kluet subdistrict, are the latest GAM
members to surrender. They surrendered to the TNI battalion in
South Aceh.

The death toll among soldiers and police remains unchanged at
25 and three killed, respectively.

While the military has not provided a revised death toll on
the number of civilians, updated data from the provincial police
on Saturday revealed that 102 noncombatants had been killed,
including 16 teachers, six civil servants and 26 village heads.

In just over one month, the war has forced over 40,000 people
to flee their homes.

Ditya said the military believed the rebels were becoming
increasingly cornered and were fast depleting their ammunition.

Separately, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) chairman Hasyim Muzadi called
on all GAM members to surrender as soon as possible in order to
restore peace to the restive province.

The leader of the country's largest Muslim organization also
appealed to the government to consider granting amnesty to those
who voluntarily surrendered.

"Laying down their arms and acknowledging the territorial
integrity of Indonesia is the only way for GAM to avoid the loss
of more victims in the province," Hasyim said on Sunday in
Cirebon, West Java told Antara.

"If they (GAM members) truly want to return to the Indonesian
side, we appeal to the President to grant them amnesty."