INDONESIA
Military Exports from Canada (1990-1999)
Year
Military Value of
Equipment Military
Types Exports
1999
10,14 21,764,175
1998
10 3,559
1997
6,10,11 190,840
1996
10 1,658,426
1995
- 0
1994
10 1,227,116
1993
- 0
1992
10 3,000
1991
11 27,963
1990
- 0
Total $24,875,079
Sources: Export of Military Goods from
Canada, Annual Reports 1990-1999. Published by the Export Controls Division,
Export and Import Controls Bureau, Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade, Government of Canada. Web site: <http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/~eicb/>
-----------------------------------
Examples of Canadian Military Exports (1990s)
Litton Systems Canada Ltd.
• APS-504(V)5
radar for CN-235 maritime patrol aircraft (subcontract)
Value
unknown (1991)
Pratt and Whitney Canada Inc.
• Maintenance,
repair, overhaul of PT6 aircraft engines (joint venture)
Value
unknown (1996)
• PT6T-3B
Turbo TwinPac engine for NBell 412 helicopter (subcontract)
Value
unknown (1996)
Project Ploughshares’ Canadian Military
Industry Database
-----------------------------------
Canadian Government Promotes Military Exports
By Paul Knox
A Canadian firm prepared to ship military
equipment to Indonesia in 1999 even as brutal attacks by Indonesian troops
drove thousands from occupied East Timor, a Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT) memo indicates.
The Sept. 14, 1999, memo suggests DFAIT was reluctant to cancel the
permit for fear the company would sue the government. The memo, released with extensive deletions, does not identify
the company or the type of equipment.
It suggests that the shipment accounted for most of the $119.3-million
in export permits to Indonesia issued by DFAIT during the previous two years.
“We can expect significant objection by the company, possibly a legal suit, if
the permit [is] revoked.” The memo,
obtained by the East Timor Alert Network was prepared a day after Minister
Lloyd Axworthy banned future military sales to Indonesia. This ban did not cover sales for which
permits had already been issued. At the time, officials said only $5,000 in
actual military sales had been registered during the previous two years. ETAN said outrage over human-rights abuses
should have outweighed concerns about a lawsuit.
DFAIT
reports do not identify the companies involved, but say military sales included
thermal-imaging equipment, fire-control radar and military aircraft and
parts. The memo says permits were
issued for sales of navigation systems, aircraft engines and training
simulators. It warned that DFAIT will
be slammed by activists for failing to ban exports in the pipeline: “Because of the high value of permit
authorizations and the manner in which this is tracked by... ETAN, we can
expect criticism of the decisions and calls to reverse those already made,” it
says.
Source: Globe and Mail, Aug.30, 2000.
Contact: ETAN, Box 4115, Station E Ottawa,
ON K1S 5B1. Email:
<info@etan.ca> Web: <http://www.etan.ca/>
-----------------------------------
Human Rights Violations (1999)
The government offered to rescind its claim
to East Timor if special autonomy was rejected by voters. Indonesia was to ensure security but did not
curb militias committing human rights violations. There is evidence the government, military and police provided
militias with weapons, training and facilities. In August, 78.5% opted for
independence. A wave of violence by
militias, army and police forced most UN personnel to evacuate. The UN sent a multinational force in
September.
Scores
of pro-independence activists and East Timorese students suspected of political
activities, were extrajudicially executed.
Others “disappeared” or were reportedly tortured by the militias, army
and police. Hundreds were reportedly
killed. There were reports of rape in
West Timor refugee camps. Sexual slavery was used to retaliate for political
activities.
Threats,
intimidation and attacks caused internal displacement of tens of
thousands. More than 250,000 fled or
were expelled, mostly to West Timor, where 100,000 remain, at risk of
violations by militias. Repatriation
was hampered by threats and attacks.
UN
Human Rights officials were denied entry into West Timor. UN representatives on extrajudicial
executions, violence against women and torture recommended holding an
international criminal tribunal if government efforts were ineffective. Police
remained under military control. The
military still wields political influence and represses dissent and
disturbances.
Unfair trials and impunity
In Irian Jaya, six were on trial or facing
trial for pro-independence activities.
Authorities used excessive and lethal force against protests, including
armed and peace-ful movements and civil unrest. Hundreds were killed in counter-insurgency operations, communal
violence and protests. Military operations against armed opposition in Aceh
intensified. Scores of extra-judicial
executions took place in Aceh and Ir-ian Jaya.
Suspects were reportedly tortured. In Irian Jaya, two men, among 22
arrested for a flag-raising, sustained broken legs due to torture. Dozens
“disappeared” in Aceh after arrest.
Some were found dead, others disappeared.
Impunity
persisted. Prosecutions of security
force members for human rights abuses were rare. Those brought to trial were generally lower ranking and received
light sentences.
Source: Amnesty International Report 2000.
<http://www.amnesty-usa.org/ailib/>
-----------------------------------
Labour Rights Violations (1999)
In May 1998, the new government said workers
could set up their own unions and cancelled the FSPSI monopoly. The government recognised the SBSI national
union centre which had been intimidated and harassed by security forces. Over 7,500 workers had been dismissed,
blacklisted or imprisoned.
Army involvement
The new government promised to stop army
interference in labour disputes, but reports of this continued and laws
allowing it were not repealed. There
was longstanding collusion between police, military and employers. The military reportedly infiltrates unions,
provokes violence and responds with force.
Complicated procedures made legal strikes virtually impossible. Nearly all are ended by police or the
military.
Discrimination
In January, Psut dismissed 107 SBSI
members. A Chinese tire-maker, Gajah
Tunggal (GT), refused to recognise SBSI. In May, an SBSI member was threatened
by police. The Bank of Indonesia sacked
workers forming SBSI branch unions. In
March, police interrogated 16 SBSI members at GT and two SBSI metal workers. Four SBSI activists received summonses for
inciting a strike. Two SBSI workers
faced six years in jail.
A
group operating plantations re-assigned SBSI members and sacked 11. In October, Sulawesi’s Novotel hotel sacked
4 unionists for striking. In Dec-ember,
police interrogated and beat up an SBSI official after a strike at Mulia
Keramik Cikarang. In November, 29 Kobar
members at a Jakarta garment plant were sacked for attending a rally.
Military involvement
Government and military elements hired thugs
to break up union organising. Strikes
continued over job losses, lay-offs, severance pay, union rights, unfair
dismissals, army presence in factories, allowances and collective
agreements. Several million lost jobs.
In
February, in mass strikes at Mas-pion, troops fired at the crowd. Security forces used water cannons and beat
protesters. Over 1,000 were fired. When
3,000 Sinar Indo Megantara workers demanded a manager’s resignation, police
opened fire, wounding five. In March,
at Kayu Lapis plywood factory near Semarang, 3,000 held a peaceful sit-in. Security guards let in provocateurs who
threw rocks, prompting riot police to open fire. Eight workers were hospitalized with rubber bullet injuries. The company reportedly paid police to intervene.
Elections in June
400 went on strike at British-owned Lon-don
Sumatra rubber and palm oil plantations for discrimination against workers
forming an independent union.
In
June, 8,000 employees at an oil well employed by Tripatra, in Sumatra, went on
strike. They were fired. Police shot rubber bullets at strikers.
In
October, SBSI said Gunung Gahapi Sakti used police and thugs to break up a
strike. Four workers had serious
injuries — three were stabbed.
3,000
workers opposed to the contract system went on strike at Vico natural gas in
Kalimantan. Management used police to
intimidate employees and a clash broke out with security.
In
November, the SPSI-R textile union was intimidated at Honey Lady Utama plant,
Bogor. Management set up a rival union
and fired 94 activists.
Security
broke up a strike by SBSI at Riau Andalan pulp and paper in December, injuring
11. The forestry workers’ chairman was
arrested.
Source: Annual Survey of Violations of Trade
Union Rights (2000), International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
-----------------------------------
Child Labour Violations
* 8,368,985
aged 15-19 are economically active. (ILO, Yearbook of Labour Statistics, 1999)
* The
government says 1,809,955 child labourers were aged 10-14 and about 203,000
aged 5-9, in 1998. (ILO-IPEC, Country Paper: Indonesia, 1999)
Where Children Work
* Thousands
are forced to work on fishing platforms off North Sumatra in bonded-labour
conditions, isolated at sea, working 12 to 20 hours per day.
* Rattan
and wood furniture, garment, shoe, food processing, toy-making industries and small
mining operations.
* Tens
of thousands of Jakarta street kids sell papers, shine shoes, wash cars or work
in hazardous conditions as scavengers and garbage pickers.
* The
ILO says 5 million children are in domestic service. (ILO-IPEC, Child Domestic
Workers, 1998)
* Child
domestics work 15 hours/day, 7 days/week. (“Phenomenon of Child Domestic Work,”
Nov. 1997)
* 1.5 million are domestic workers. Many are girls under 15.
Prostitution and Trafficking
* Women
and girls are reportedly trafficked to Japan, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan
as sex workers. (U.S. Dept. of State, Human Rights Report, 1999)
* 30%
(40-150,000) of sex workers are under 18. (UNICEF Indonesia, Child Workers in
Asia, Jan.-Mar. 2000)
Source: <http://www.globalmarch.org/worstformsreport/world/indonesia.html>
-----------------------------------
TAKE ACTION!
Canadian Labour Congress
Join the CLC in a boycott of Indonesian goods
until all East Timorese are allowed to return home under UN supervision, and an
independent East Timor is established with clear time lines and international
commitments for development and institutional assistance. Products sold under these brands or at these
stores may be from Indonesia - check the label.
Sports Shoes:
Adidas
Reebok
Nike
Fila
Bata
Airwalk
Furniture:
Pier 1 Imports
Bombay Co.
IKEA
China:
Royal Doulton
Noritake
Wine Glasses:
Pier 1 Imports
Toys:
IKEA: Manhattan Toy Co.
Other:
The Body Shop
Pier 1 Imports
Clothing:
Tommy Hilfiger
Disney
The Gap
Nike
Eddie Bauer
Ralph Lauren
Calvin Klein
Members Only
Banana Republic
Mac Mor/Weatherman
Columbia Sportswear
Hudson's BaySpirit River
Jockey
Docker's
Jones NY
Contact: CLC, 2841 Riverside Dr., Ottawa, ON
K1J 8X7. Tel: (613) 521-3400; Web: <http://www.clc-ctc.ca/
>
---
Boycott Gulf Canada
Gulf Canada operates natural gas fields in
East Aceh in a 50-50 partnership with Mobil. About 39,000 are believed to have
disappeared from the area over the last two decades. Indonesian human rights organizations say Mobil is
"responsible for human rights abuses" by providing support to the
army, like earth-moving equipment used to dig mass graves.
Source: <http://www.interlog.com/~cafiet/canadian/acehgulf.html>