East Timor under siege

East Timor under siege

Indonesia's military and millions of nationalists deeply
resent the offer of independence (to East Timor) and worry that
it could encourage separatist movements in other regions. What
East Timor is suffering is not chaos but an organized rampage by
the militias, as some of the more that 15,000 Indonesian troops
there stand by and even participate. The violence is very likely
being coordinated by military men in Jakarta.

Indonesia's government insists that it can solve the problem
without international help and has declared martial law. But
Indonesia's military is the problem, not the solution.

Getting Jakarta's consent for an international peacekeeping
force will require strong and immediate pressure, especially from
the United States, Australia -- which has strong ties to
Indonesia's military -- and Japan, a large donor of economic aid.

All three nations should announce that they are cutting off
all military aid and sales. They, and the international banks,
should also stop all but humanitarian loans and economic aid.
America should give the peacekeeping mission a strong
endorsement. An international force is clearly the last resort,
to be tried only if Mr. Habibie and Indonesia's military leader,
General Wiranto, will not stop the violence.

But a united, powerful threat from abroad is likely needed to
persuade them to end the killings.

-- The New York Times