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.