British-made tanks used in Aceh

The export of Scorpion tanks to Indonesia was worth £100m

The Indonesian military has begun using British-made Scorpion tanks in its month-old offensive against separatist rebels in Aceh.

Indonesian military officials said that 36 of the armoured vehicles arrived in Aceh on Sunday, and that they would primarily be used to safeguard road transport from rebel ambushes.

The British Government approved the export of 50 Scorpions, in addition to 16 Hawk jet fighter planes, to Indonesia in 1996 on condition that they would not be used for internal repression.

But an Indonesian military spokesman in Aceh told the Reuters news agency that the tanks could be used to "wipe out" the Free Aceh movement rebels, even if the British foreign minister had "a fit" over their use.

We have received assurance by the Indonesian military that they not be used aggressively

UK Foreign Office

The deal to export the Scorpions and Hawks to Indonesia was agreed by the British Conservative government in 1996, and was worth £260m (approximately US$431m).

When the Labour government came to power in May 1997, Prime Minister Tony Blair came under intense pressure not to "rubber-stamp" the deal, because of concerns about the Indonesian military's human rights record.

But the deal went ahead, with the caveat that the equipment would not be used against Indonesia's domestic population.

Since the offensive in Aceh began on May 19, the Indonesian military has said it has killed 255 rebels and that 106 civilians have also died.

Human rights groups and journalists in Aceh have alleged serious human rights abuses during the campaign, and the Indonesian human rights commission is currently investigating allegations of a mass grave in the Bireun district of Aceh.

A spokesman for the UK Foreign Office told BBC News Online that the UK was monitoring the situation in Aceh closely.

"We have received assurance by the Indonesian military that they not be used aggressively," he said.

"If the tanks were involved in human rights abuses it would inevitably adversely affect the British government's relationship with Indonesia, " he added..

The Indonesian military however, defended their right to use Scorpions to suppress Free Aceh movement (Gam) rebels.

"Maybe later the British foreign minister will have a fit," said Indonesian military spokesman Colonel Sitya Sudarsono.

"But is it wrong if we use the tanks to save the people? Those whom we are going to wipe out are those who are conducting intimidation, extortion and murder," he told the Reuters news agency.

Four Hawk jets were used on the first day of the military offensive in Aceh but did not mount any aggressive attacks.