Mutual cooperation pledged in East Timor

By Budiman Moerdijat

DILI, East Timor (JP): Indonesia's top military commander in East Timor and the chief of the incoming multinational peacekeeping force pledged mutual cooperation on Sunday ahead of the arrival of some 2,500 troops in the territory on Monday.

In an apparent effort to dispel suspicions and ill-feeling, Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri, head of Indonesia's Restoration Operation Command in East Timor, and Maj. Gen. Peter Cosgrove commander of the UN-approved International Force for East Timor (Interfet), embraced and made statements of mutual trust.

"There was no sign of arrogance from him. In fact, his manner was almost Javanese," Syahnakri said of the Australian.

He claimed that the two sides reached a level of mutual understanding and a shared vision of the direction in which to proceed.

Since the Indonesian government agreed to accept foreign peacekeepers to quell the violence in East Timor, there has been an upsurge in anti-Australian sentiment due to the perception that Canberra's efforts in the East Timorese crisis verge on meddling in Indonesian affairs.

Some East Timorese and segments of Indonesian society have also accused Australia of backing proindependence factions, resulting in an overwhelming rejection of Indonesia's offer of autonomy in the Aug. 30 ballot.

In an apparent attempt to cool increasing resentment toward the Australian-led peacekeeping troops, Cosgrove pledged on Sunday that Interfet would maintain a "cooperative spirit" with the Indonesian Military. He said they would "behave with sensitivity and discretion and we will observe the dignity of all people, the East Timorese and the Army".

"When I bring the force in tomorrow (Monday), I hope to say that they will lead a cooperative spirit and will get on quickly with the job, and leave the people of East Timor to make their own destiny," he said after the 90-minute meeting with Syahnakri.

"I sincerely hope that the people can see that we're able to cooperate and this will rebuild our relationship which undoubtedly has suffered some damage," he said, referring to flagging bilateral relations.

He also lauded TNI's pledge of cooperation with Interfet. "I'm very grateful for the cooperative spirit in which the TNI has received my delegation. I will relay it back to my higher authorities that the cooperation has been first class.

Cosgrove arrived in Dili at the head of Interfet's advance team. After meeting with Syahnakri, he flew back to Darwin, Australia, to lead the peacekeeping force due to arrive Monday morning.

Before leaving, Cosgrove warned militias that any violence against the UN force would be responded to "robustly".

Arrive

The first international peacekeepers are expected to land at Komoro Airport at about 6:30 a.m.

The 2,500 of an estimated 8,000 peacekeeping force from some 20 countries, will arrive in 37 groups from Darwin by military air transport.

Almost all of the first batch of troops are expected to be Australian.

Ten Blackhawk helicopters will also be arriving on Monday to help facilitate operations.

At the same time, several Australian navy ships -- among them HMAS Jarvis Bay and HMAS Tobruk -- will also dock at the harbor carrying logistics, including armed personnel carriers.

Syahnakri said he did not know how many carriers would be brought ashore, saying only that the disembarkation will last until about 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.

"Even though it probably won't be done Monday, these first troops will be deployed in Dili and Baucau," he said.

He added that he received assurances from Cosgrove that the Australian vessels would not enter waters of neighboring East Nusa Tenggara.

Syahnakri told journalists he expected to hand over control of the territory at the earliest five days after the arrival of the UN force.

Cosgrove, who is scheduled to arrive back in Dili at 11 a.m. on Monday, will hold a further discussion with Syahnakri to iron the details of the mission.

Separately, Col. Noer Muis, chief of the Udayana Military Command, said here on Sunday that the 500 refugees and troops remaining at the harbor would be evacuated before the arrival of the international peacekeeping force.

"All military personnel and refugees at the harbor will be evacuated to Kupang," he said.

"We hope the three ships being prepared will take them before the foreign troops arrive."

The situation in Dili was generally calm on Sunday but commercial activities appear to have ceased completely along with the devastation in the city.