Disarmament of Timor militias starts next week

Disarmament of Timor militias starts next week

UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): Indonesian officials presented to the UN Security Council its timetable for disarming militias cloistering in West Timor, but continued its rejection on the sending of a council mission to Jakarta to discuss the crisis.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono briefed council members on Tuesday on measures Indonesia would take to quell the militias.

He told reporters afterward that the government would ask the militias to voluntarily give up their weapons next week.

After next Tuesday, the Indonesian Police and Army will begin disarming the militias by force, if necessary.

"We will combine persuasive and repressive methods in the disarmament process," he said. The forceful measures will be "to make sure there are no weapons concealed or possessed by the militias," he added.

But Susilo as well as Indonesian foreign minister Alwi Shihab, said that an intended visit from a Security Council mission would be unproductive at this time and would be viewed by the public as interference in Indonesia's affairs.

"I think there is a crisis of distrust and we have to solve this," said Shihab, who spoke earlier before the UN General Assembly ministerial session. "We are not defying the UN resolutions. It is only the timing."

"If this mission is dispatched now, it will be seen as an intervention, it will induce reactions and it will incite emotions within the Indonesian community," Shihab said as quoted by Reuters.

The council had wanted to send about seven envoys to Jakarta this month to meet with several Indonesian officials pertaining the crisis. But short of dispatching peacekeepers from East Timor, administered by the United Nations, into Indonesian West Timor to escort refugees across the border, the council's options appear limited without Jakarta's cooperation.

Foreign relief workers fled West Timor after a mob stormed an office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Atambua on Sept. 6, killing three UN workers.

Susilo said peacekeepers from the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) would be invited to observe the disarmament process in West Timor. But he would reject any assistance from UNTAET, saying the task would be accomplished by Indonesian police and soldiers.

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who is due to meet with Susilo later in the day, told reporters that he would repeat to the minister what he said to Indonesia's President Abdurrahman Wahid: "They need to bring the violence under control. They need to deal with the militias. They need to disarm them. They need to dismantle those refugee camps within three months and help the refugees who want to go back to East Timor go back."

"Until that is done, their own reputation and their relationship with the world can be compromised," he said.

Alwi Shihab in his speech to the UN General Assembly also vowed that Indonesia would punish those responsible for the slaying of the three UN aid workers but criticized the UN for having suspended humanitarian work in the territory.

Alwi Shihab said it was "unacceptable" that humanitarian workers should become victims themselves and said Indonesia would take the necessary measures to guard against another attack.

"Let me be clear in stating that this crime should not go unpunished," Alwi said as quoted by AP.

"This tragedy should not, however, result in a withdrawal of humanitarian assistance, thus compounding the loss. We should work together to resolve any and all obstacles to the safe delivery of humanitarian assistance," he said.

The UNHCR has suspended operations in West Timor and has evacuated about 400 aid workers since the incident in Atambua.

On Tuesday, UNHCR said it was scaling back its operations in the Indonesian capital Jakarta because of continuing security fears.

In his address Alwi also remarked that Indonesia is thinking of improving its participation in the UN peacekeeping force by sending more troops in the future.

"Since 1957, Indonesia has participated in the UN peacekeeping force," Alwi Shihab said as quoted by Antara.

He said Indonesia's intention is to anticipate future challenges faced by the world body.