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.