§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, in light of the identification of a British-made Saladin armoured vehicle being used by Indonesian soldiers and Muslim militia attacking a Christian area in Ambon, they will impose an embargo on the sale of all military equipment to Indonesia. [HL3572]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalWe take very seriously any allegation that British-built equipment is being used repressively, even when it was supplied over 30 years ago. The brief clips from the Associated Press showing the Saladins in Ambon do not show them being used oppressively. However, we have asked our embassy in Jakarta to raise the deployment of Saladin with the Indonesian authorities.
In attempting to restore law and order in Maluku, the Indonesian navy has already seized over 20 boats, thousands of weapons and detained over 500 Muslim warriors involved in the violence.