Indonesia wants Australia kept off UN force

JAKARTA (JP): The House of Representatives and the ruling Golkar Party demanded on Monday that Australia and Portugal be excluded from any international peacekeeping forces sent to restore peace and order in East Timor.

The Indonesian Military (TNI) also insisted that Jakarta should be consulted about the makeup of the UN force.

President B.J. Habibie, who met with the House leadership to explain his about-face decision to let the United Nations send a peacekeeping mission into the ravaged territory, fell short of making specific demands.

Habibie said he was leaving the matter entirely up to the UN Security Council to determine the makeup of the peacekeeping force, "after negotiations with the Indonesian delegation".

"I'm not mentioning countries," he said when asked whether Indonesia would approve the presence of Australia or Portugal.

Indonesia is not at war with anyone, he said. "We're on friendly terms with everyone."

Speaker Harmoko fell short of declaring his support for the decision, saying that the House "understood" the steps being taken by the government in resolving the East Timor crisis.

Harmoko also urged Habibie to send Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and Minister of Defense and Security Gen. Wiranto to brief the House regarding the details of the agreement.

Habibie had sent Alatas to discuss details of the peacekeeping mission with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Two military top brass, Lt. Gen. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Navy Rear Admiral Yoost F. Mengko, will join Alatas in the negotiations in New York.

One crucial question to resolve is whether the Indonesian Military will be under the UN force or a separate entity in the East Timor operation, TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat said.

Habibie announced his decision on Sunday in the wake of increasing international criticisms against Jakarta's failure to stop violence in East Timor.

He offered a "security cooperation" arrangement in which the United Nations peacekeeping force would work together with the Indonesian Military.

The government's international and domestic indignation has nevertheless left a bitter taste among many Indonesian leaders.

They vented their anger at Australia, Portugal and to a lesser extent the United States, Canada and New Zealand, which they singled out as countries most vocal in pressuring Indonesia over the past week.

TNI said it supported the government's decision to send the UN mission to help restore peace in East Timor, which it insisted remains an Indonesian territory until November.

TNI preferred to have mostly forces from Southeast Asian countries, Sudrajat said, adding that although Indonesia did not have the last say, its voice should be heard.

"Failing that, we could have a multinational force. Germany to represent Europe, Canada from the Americas, Vietnam from Asia, Egypt from the Middle East and South Africa from Africa."

When asked about Australia, he said: "We have to watch Australia because our relations have been disrupted. The government and TNI can not ignore the public's negative reaction which does not welcome Australia's participation."

House Commission I for foreign affairs said the government should reject the participation of Australia, New Zealand and Portugal because they have political interests in East Timor.

"These three countries would stir up new trouble because they are clearly not neutral," commission chairwoman Aisyah Aminy said.

"These countries have imposed their will on us to get themselves involved in East Timor. They have no shame," Aisyah said.

She said she took her cue from the participation of many Australians in the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), which organized the historic Aug. 30 ballot. "They clearly imposed their will on the East Timorese. If Australian troops are involved now, they will prolong the East Timor problem."

The commission said the government should insist on countries more neutral and who have no political interests in the UN forces. This includes Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and the Philippines in this category.

Aminullah Ibrahim, a member of House Commission I from the military faction, cautioned that Australian political parties would use East Timor to bolster their popularity in this year's elections.

"The participation of Australian forces would only prolong the East Timor crisis," Aminullah said.

Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung said Australia, the United States, New Zealand, Canada and Portugal should be excluded from any peacekeeping mission in East Timor because they were not neutral, Antara reported.

Akbar said Golkar viewed the decision to let in the UN forces was the best policy to bring an immediate end to the East Timor crisis.

But the forces should come from countries which had no political interests and which were neutral to both conflicting parties in East Timor.

"If you bring forces from countries that are not neutral, you will stir up people's emotions. It would be such a waste," he said.

He said the international peacekeeping forces must coordinate their operation with TNI, which is familiar with the territory and conflict.

"As soon as the situation in East Timor is brought under control, the UN forces should leave East Timor," Akbar said.

East Timor will remain under Indonesia's rule until November. "Its sovereignty cannot be undermined," he said. (rms/emb)