Indonesia Cancels F-16 Deal With U.S.

HONG KONG — Indonesia scrapped plans to buy nine American-made F-16 warplanes Friday and canceled participation in a U.S. military training program, signaling growing irritation over U.S. criticism of President Suharto’s human rights record.

The Indonesian foreign minister, Ali Abdullah Alatas, announced the decision in Jakarta, saying he hopes the move might ease the tension and help the relationship get back on track. He said Suharto relayed the government’s decision to President Clinton in a letter delivered earlier this week.

In his letter, Suharto cited “wholly unjustified criticisms in the United States Congress against Indonesia which are linked to its participation in the [training] program and the planned purchase of the F-16 planes,” according to an Associated Press report from Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.

The F-16 planes destined for Indonesia were from a group of 28 originally set to be delivered to Pakistan. That sale was blocked because of concerns over Pakistan’s nuclear policy.

The deal with Indonesia, which was expected to be worth about $200 million, was seen as a welcome alternative. But it too had been delayed because of concern in the U.S. Congress that Indonesia is stifling democracy and cracking down on dissent, particularly in East Timor.

The U.S. Embassy said Friday: “While we regret this decision, it is of course up to Indonesia to determine its own defense requirements. The United States and Indonesia have cooperated closely on a broad range of regional and global issues in the past, and we look forward to working closely with Indonesia in these areas in the future.”

U.S. State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns confirmed that the U.S. had begun discussing with other countries the possible sale of the planes.

Indonesia has long been a key U.S. ally. But it has come under increasing U.S. criticism, particularly after elections May 29 that saw Suharto’s party returned to power.