Indonesia told to disband militia in West Timor

Indonesia told to disband militia in West Timor

UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): The UN Security Council has
unanimously called on Indonesia to take immediate steps to disarm
and disband militia in West Timor responsible for the recent
killing of UN personnel.

Security Council President Moctar Ouane of Mali also announced
that a mission would be sent to the region to discuss
implementation of its demands.

The council's action was in response to the murder of three UN
refugee workers by pro-Jakarta militia in Indonesia's West Timor
on Wednesday.

Referring to Wednesday's killings, the Security Council
resolution condemned "this outrageous and contemptible act
against unarmed international staff" who were in West Timor to
help refugees.

The council resolution, adopted without comment, stressed that
those responsible for the attacks on international personnel must
be brought to justice.

Saying the council was "appalled by the brutal murder" of the
three UN personnel, the resolution said it "insists that the
government of Indonesia take immediate additional steps, in
fulfillment of its responsibilities, to disarm and disband the
militia immediately," restore law and order in the affected areas
in West Timor, and ensure safety and security in the refugee
camps and for humanitarian workers.

The resolution also underlined that the U.N. Transitional
Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) "should respond robustly to
the militia threat in East Timor."

Military

Shortly before the vote, United States envoy Richard Holbrooke
said that "elements within the Indonesian military are directly
or indirectly responsible for these outrageous" acts.

He said he did not know what they hoped to gain "unless they
are trying to drive out of West Timor the international relief
community so that they can return part of that island to the
terror that it underwent from 1975 until 1999 and then spread
that terror east across the boundary between West and East
Timor."

He said U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. Secretary of
State Madeleine Albright had talked to senior Indonesian
officials this week.

"But there is some question as to how much direct control they
have over the elements of the military who are directly or
indirectly responsible for what's happening," Holbrooke said.

"We have great respect for President Wahid," Holbrooke said.
"But let's be clear. Directly or indirectly it is elements within
the Indonesian military responsible for this who could have been
removed a long time ago."

Meanwhile in Washington U.S. Defense Secretary William Cohen
will carry "a strong message" from President Bill Clinton to
Indonesian leaders during an upcoming Asian trip that Jakarta
must control its military and end violence in Timor, the Pentagon
said on Friday.

A senior Defense Department official said Cohen planned to
meet President Abdurrahman Wahid and other officials during a
Sept. 17-18 stop and would make it clear that Jakarta risks
continued security isolation from Washington unless changes are
made.

"Secretary Cohen has been directed by President Clinton to
raise our concerns about the lack of security in both West and
East Timor," the defense official told reporters.

"He will take a strong message to the leaders of Indonesia:
Indonesia's failure to protect an American citizen and other
international aid workers -- and the more general failure of the
Indonesian Army to provide security for the international relief
operations -- threaten to destroy international goodwill towards
Indonesia at a time when it needs it the most," the official
added.

Cohen will depart Washington on Wednesday and go first to
Manila. From there he will travel to Singapore, Indonesia,
Thailand, South Korea and Japan.