Cook warned over arms sales

Indonesia Threatens Loss of Arms Deals

The warning was delivered at a meeting in Hong Kong between Mr Cook and his Indonesian counterpart, Ali Alatas.

The Foreign Secretary used the meeting to brief Indonesia on the Foreign Office review of arms sales policy, which is expected to put greater emphasis on respect for human rights. Mr Cook told Mr Alatas that the review was not specifically aimed at Indonesia, but he did say Britain was concerned about its human rights record.

The sale of British Hawk attack and training aircraft, and other equipment, to Indonesia has attracted immense controversy. It was one of the main reasons Mr Cook launched the policy review, which should be published by the end of this month.

British-supplied armoured personnel carriers and water cannon were used in Indonesia last year to break up student demonstrations. A number of protestors were killed in the clashes. Human rights groups allege the Hawk planes are used to intimidate opponents of the Indonesian authorities in East Timor.

Labour has pledged that it "will not permit the sale of arms to regimes that might use them for internal repression or international aggression."