Cook: 'full and frank' discussions with the Indonesian government

Robin Cook talks to the Today programme

Cook's Human Rights Initiative Meets with Threat from Indonesia

Indonesian human rights groups will also benefit from a six-point plan for practical support.

Mr Cook said the Indonesians broadly accepted his proposals, but Mr Alatas made it clear that there remained a wide gulf between the two sides and warned that if human rights were linked to arms sales, Indonesia would look elsewhere for defence equipment. "If this becomes the general policy of the UK and if it turns out that certain types of equipment cannot be made available to Indonesia as export items, then we will have to look elsewhere - and we are already looking elsewhere," he said.

Police response to demonstrations is heavy-handed

But the Foreign Secretary said respect for human rights had to come first. "I want to develop a positive agenda for human rights in Indonesia," he said. "It is in the spirit of offering a constructive partnership with Indonesia that I announce a six-point plan to assist human rights," he added.

Under the proposals Britain will:

• Contribute to police training in Indonesia. As an initial step, a lecture series by senior police officers is to be organised on modern methods, particularly non-violent crowd control techniques.
• Cooperate with the National Human Rights Commission in Indonesia with funding for computers and other equipment as well as books on good government, democracy and public administration.
• Give similar aid to the non-government Legal Aid Foundation, set up by local lawyers to promote and protect human rights and defend activists persecuted by the government.
• Fund 20 scholarships annually for students focusing on human rights and good government and three places will be funded on the Oxford University course on international human rights law.
• Pay a significant contribution to the cost of peace talks on East Timor organised by the UN in Austria.
• Press the EU to despatch an ambassadorial team to East Timor to get the views of local people.

Mr Cook said: "We speak as friends of the Indonesian people, but the truest friends are those who are prepared to speak candidly when necessary. I leave after this visit confident that we understand each other better and optimistic that we can achieve a partnership."

Mr Alatas, who in the past has reacted angrily to criticism of Jakarta's policies, was relaxed about the offer of help to improve the country's much-criticised human rights record. But he said Indonesia would take no lessons from Britain. "In the field of human rights, let us not lecture each other or accuse each other," he said, adding that Mr Cook had not hectored him.

Mr Cook's meeting with his Indonesian counterpart was described as "full and frank" - a diplomatic nicety for 'tough' or 'heated'.

Mr Alatas said afterwards: "We both had the opportunity to explain to each other the positions that we have. I hope because of this very frank discussion and wide-ranging discussion there is mutual understanding on this."

Mr Cook gave away little more, saying: "We had a frank and useful discussion on human rights and the way in which Britain can act to continue the improvement in human rights in Indonesia. And we had a full discussion on the situation in East Timor and the prospects for a successful outcome of the United Nations dialogue."

"The discussions were held in a spirit of mutual respect and understanding of each other's views," he added.

BBC reporter Jonathan Head looks at the human rights situation in Indonesia

The Foreign Secretary's stop-over in Indonesia is thought to be the most difficult leg of his tour of south-east Asia. Relations between the Britain and Indonesia have been troubled recently by differences over arms sales and human rights.

In a politically symbolic move, Mr Cook's first action after arriving in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, was to telephone Bishop Carlos Belo - the leading independence campaigner in East Timor.

E. Timor Campaigners risk the wrath of the Indonesian authorities

Indonesia has been accused of serious human rights abuses against the people of East Timor and there are renewed reports of Indonesian military action. Mr Cook told the Nobel Peace Prize winning bishop: "I want to take the opportunity of making the point of speaking to you."

And he asked for an up-date on the current situation before his difficult meeting with Indonesia leader President Suharto on Friday.

New Foreign Policy

Mr Cook faces the complex task of seeking to make progress on human rights in Indonesia, while safeguarding thousands of British jobs in the defence industry, which exported £438 million of equipment here last year.

The controversial decision last month to allow the sale of 16 Hawk trainer jets, 50 Alvis armoured vehicles and Tactica water cannons provoked anger among Labour left-wingers.

The Portuguese Prime Minister, Antonio Guterres, telephoned Tony Blair to underline his government's "displeasure" at the deal. The Government made clear that the decision was based on legal advice, which said it would not be realistic or practical to revoke the export licences originally granted by the Conservative government. He will also make clear in his talks that Britain still wants a defence relationship with Indonesia.

Cook to Meet Civil Rights Leaders

Among them is the political reform organisation PIJAR, which is best known for its underground newspaper. He will also talk to the independent, unrecognised SBSI trade union.

Mr Cook had been hoping to meet SBSI's chairman Muchtar Pakpahan, the prominent human rights campaigner who is currently on trial for subversion, but plans had to be dropped at the last minute.

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