HC Deb 28 October 1999 vol 336 c991W
Ann Clwyd

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in relation to the most recent delivery of three Hawk aircraft to Indonesia, if he will give(a) the date on which the aircraft left the United Kingdom, (b) the reason for the temporary grounding of the aircraft in Bangkok, (c) the nationality of the pilots flying the aircraft from the United Kingdom to Indonesia, (d) by whom the pilots were employed and (e) the date on which the aircraft became legally the property of the Indonesian Government. [95339]

Mr. Battle

The aircraft referred to left the UK on 31 August. Once the aircraft left UK shores, the details of the export became a matter for the company concerned.

Ms Oona King

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ask the Indonesian Government for a full and independent investigation into the death of the Balibo five during the Indonesian invasion of East Timor in 1975. [96024]

Mr. Battle

We have no plans to do so. The Australian Government, who have led on the issue (the five journalists killed were based in Australia and worked for Australian TV stations), commissioned a comprehensive investigation by a former Solicitor General of Australia, Tom Sherman, in 1995. The Sherman Report remains our benchmark. New information about the incident which came to light last year was referred by the Australian Government to Mr. Sherman. Mr. Sherman's second report contained no major new revelations or conclusions.

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