Britain approves fighter sale to Indonesia

By Norm Dixon The British government has approved the sale of fighter aircraft to the Indonesian military. The government ignored calls from human rights groups and campaigners for self-determination for East Timor to reject the sale because of Jakarta's appalling human rights record. Announcing the approval on December 19, the government said it had concluded the aircraft "would probably not be used against opponents of the Indonesian government". Trade minister Anthony Nelson said he had authorised the issue of licences to British Aerospace Plc for a contract it signed in 1993 to sell 24 Hawk trainers and ground-attack fighters worth about &163;500 million (A$1 billion). Nelson said he had given approval after consultations with the Ministry of Defence and the Foreign Office. A senior Indonesian air force officer said last year that 16 of the fighters would be stationed at Pekanbaru, capital of Riau province in eastern Sumatra, to strengthen air defences in an arc from northern Sumatra across to central Java. The sale of the Hawk fighters has been opposed by East Timor activists in a vigorous campaign that has included demonstrations, occupations of British Aerospace offices and disruption of BA shareholders meetings.