Suharto and his fellow generals seized power in a coup in 1965. In the following year, between 500,000 and one million people were killed. Much of this violence is directed against workers to prevent them from organising trade unions to improve working conditions. Many factory workers are paid less than the minimum wage of 1.20 per day. In 1975, Indonesia invaded and then annexed neighbouring East Timor.
Reports characterise Indonesian rule as repressive and extraordinarily brutal.
Indonesia's more recent human rights record remains imperfect but progress is being made. Britain regularly supplies the Indonesian armed forces with military equipment including helicopters, SAM missiles, frigates, battlefield communication systems and various armoured vehicles. For example, Alvis Vehicles of Coventry are currently negotiating a contract to supply over 100 Scorpion light tanks and Stormer armoured personnel carriers. These highly mobile tanks could be used against civilian demonstrators and in quelling internal insurrection. But the jewel in the crown is the recent contract for the sale of British Hawk jets.