TNI replaces British tanks in Aceh

TNI replaces British tanks in Aceh

JAKARTA: The Indonesian Military (TNI) on Monday shipped 14
locally made armored personnel carriers (APCs) to Aceh to replace
28 British-made Scorpion tanks currently used in its offensive
against rebels there.

The 14 APCs were the first shipment of 40 that were
manufactured by the Army Industrial Affairs Center (Pindad) to
replace the Scorpion tanks, whose use in the military operation
in Aceh has sparked protests, particularly from rights groups.

"We have tested the APCs, and decided they have the same
capacity as the Scorpions," said TNI spokesman Col. D.J. Nachrowi
while witnessing the dispatch of the armored personnel carriers.

The 14 APCs shipped to Aceh on Monday were equipped with
either 44 mm Automatic Grenade Launchers or 7.62 mm General
Purpose Machine Guns, said Nachrowi. Each APC can carry 13
personnel.

Military sales agreements between Britain and Indonesia,
stipulate that the hardware should only be used for "defensive"
purposes. -- Antara