Richard Norton-Taylor – Human rights campaigners have accused the government of relaxing demands on Indonesia over the use of British military equipment in the country.

After growing protests over the use of British equipment against civil rights protesters and separatists, the Foreign Office had asked Indonesia to give notice before using armoured personnel carriers, tanks and Hawk aircraft.

In 2002, the foreign secretary, Jack Straw, told a Commons committee on strategic exports that Indonesia had warned the government that British-built armoured personnel carriers would be deployed in Aceh, which is seeking independence. It was told they would be used only for "casualty evacuation and logistical support".

However, the Guardian has learned that, last year, the Foreign Office removed the demand for such advance notice.

A Foreign Office spokesman said yesterday that the requirement was dropped because Indonesia had given a fresh assurance that no British equipment would ever be used to infringe human rights or in "offensive" operations.

Since Indonesia gave its 2002 assurance, more British equipment has been deployed to Aceh, including Hawk jets and Scorpion tanks.

Paul Barber, a spokesman for Tapol, the Indonesian human rights campaign, said: "British equipment is being used in a war in Aceh in which hundreds of civilians have been killed. The government must be called to account for its complicity in yet more brutality by the infamous Indonesian army."