The arms to Iraq scandal was a low point for the Major administration. Labour's declaration of an ethical foreign policy was seen as a chance for the new Government to make a clean break with the practice of selling arms to regimes with poor human rights records. However, when it comes to the arms trade words are one thing, actions are another.
Britain is the second largest arms manufacturer in the world after the US. Many of the countries that British companies have dealt with may not fulfil the letter of Labour's new ethical foreign policy. Attention focused on Indonesia. The previous Government agreed to export licences for Hawk fighters, Alvis armoured cars and Tacitica water cannons. There could not be a more clear cut case of a country buying weapons for "internal repression or international aggression". Indonesia has illegally occupied East Timor for over twenty years in contravention of UN resolutions. There have been well documented cases of weapons being used by the Indonesian army against civilians in East Timor. It was for this reason that 136 MPs including over one hundred Labour MPs signed an early day motion calling on the Government "to stop the sale of all military, police and security equipment to Indonesia."
It came as a huge disappointment to human rights activists when Robin Cook announced that the exports would proceed, claiming that "it is not practical to backdate these new criteria to apply to decisions on licences already taken by the previous administration." This limp excuse does not bare examination. Legal opinion obtained by the Government was not conclusive, however the World Development Movement obtained a legal opinion arguing that it was "extremely unlikely" that the decision of the previous administration would bind the new Government. There have been recent precedents of arms sales being revoked in the cases of Iraq, Somalia and the former Yugoslavia.
In Labour's first test of their ethical policy they have caved in to the Foreign Office. The pressure on the Foreign Office seems to have come from both the DTI and the MoD. Worried that Robin Cook might actually mean to deliver a real change of policy they raised the spectre of huge job losses. Labour's actions so far seem to have favoured an expansion of the arms trade. Tony Blair put pressure on the German Government to accept the expensive Eurofighter. The DTI also agreed to GEC's bid for a major expansion into arms production by dropping the ban on bidding for Siemens' military interests.
Arms manufacturers are delighted with the Government's new policy as Labour seem to be prepared to drop restrictions which might prevent a huge expansion in military exports. This may have been damaged if the Government had revoked the arms licences to Indonesia. "Protecting jobs" (how about arms conversion?) has been placed ahead of the human rights of the people of East Timor.
This raises serious questions about Labour's ethical foreign policy. Will new licences be granted in the future to Indonesia? The signs are worrying. Robin Cook went out of his way to question whether Hawks were used against the people of East Timor. It is no wonder that Michael Howard questioned whether there was a significant difference in policy from the previous Tory administration. The scale of backbench opposition to arms sales to Indonesia shows that the Government will face a strong challenge at Party Conference. CAAT has concentrated on trying to amend a resolution that will have the support of the Labour leadership. This will give an opportunity to put the Foreign Office statement to the test at Conference. The leadership will hope that their honeymoon will carry them through. The best outcome for people facing repressive regimes would be a conclusive defeat for the Labour leadership.