Indonesia and UNTAET sign agreement
Indonesia and UNTAET sign agreement
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The Indonesian government and the United
Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) signed
on Friday an agreement on jointly resolving the East Timor
refugee problem.
The memorandum of understanding was signed by Coordinating
Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs Lt. Gen.
(ret.) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and UNTAET chief Sergio Vieira de
Mello.
The two parties agreed to cooperate in overcoming conflicts
along the border, including the problem of "pro-Indonesia
refugees".
They agreed to offer options to about 130,000 East Timorese
refugees, either to be resettled in Indonesia or return to East
Timor. The memorandum does not set a specific deadline for
resettlement.
"The signing of the memorandum reflects the cooperation
between Indonesia, UNTAET and CNRT (National Council for East
Timor Resistance) in settling various difficulties which emerge
at the borderline, particularly with the refugees," said Susilo,
who signed in his capacity as acting minister of foreign affairs.
CNRT leaders Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao and Jose Ramos-
Horta also attended the signing ceremony. Indonesian Military
Commander Adm. Widodo A.S. and Minister of Justice and Human
Rights Yusril Ihza Mahendra were also present.
Shortly after the ceremony, Susilo reported to Vice President
Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was also on a two-day visit to Bali.
In the afternoon, Susilo flew back to Jakarta and met with
ambassadors from members of UN Security Council.
"It's part of our initiative to explain what we have been
doing and will be doing in responding to the UN resolution," said
Susilo, after the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
building.
While rejecting the use of the term "disarming" in regard to
the militia, Susilo noted that the government would conduct
several steps to ask militiamen to hand over their remaining
weapons.
"We would be very happy if the ambassadors could go there
(Atambua)," Susilo said when asked about the government's
invitation to the ambassadors to visit the border town in west
Timor.
Susilo is due to leave for New York on Sunday to directly meet
with the UN Security Council on Monday. Minister of Foreign
Affairs Alwi Shihab is also expected to attend the briefing at
the UN.
"We are waiting for the meeting with Mr. Yudhoyono on the
efforts being taken by the Indonesian government to implement UN
Resolution No 1319," Security Council rotating president Mochtar
Ouane said on Friday in New York as quoted by Antara.
The resolution was passed last week following the killing of
three UN aid workers in Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara.
The resolution demands that the Indonesian government
immediately disarm and disband pro-Jakarta East Timorese
militiamen blamed for the death of the three UN personnel.
It also urges Indonesia to take immediate steps to ensure the
safe return of refugees who want to go back to East Timor and the
safety of those who resettle in Indonesia.
The United States ambassador to the UN, Richard Holbrooke, in
New York on Friday also reiterated the need for Indonesia to take
stern measures to ensure that violence does not erupt again in
west Timor.
Holbrooke also charged that elements of the Indonesian
Military were directly or indirectly responsible for the
killings.
While Susilo and Alwi are in New York, United States Defense
Secretary William Cohen is scheduled to meet with President
Abdurrahman Wahid on Monday.
Speaking in Manila on Friday, Cohen said violence in
Indonesian west Timor must be stemmed, and the government should
hold the military accountable for last year's devastation in East
Timor.
Indonesia risks rising foreign condemnation and continued
military isolation from the U.S. unless something is done about
west Timor, Cohen told reporters.
"That is going to be an important visit -- to remind the
President and especially the military -- that they need to take
strong action to curb the militias in West Timor," Cohen said, as
quoted by Reuters. (zen/swa/jun/prb)