Peacekeeping force not needed now: Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas ruled out on Friday the possibility of an international peacekeeping force being deployed in East Timor until the status of the province had been endorsed by the People's Consultative Assembly.

He made the statement amid mounting demands to send an armed United Nations force to the province given continued reports of violence and lawlessness there.

In anticipation of more possible unrest, Minister of Defense and Security/Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto said two battalions of troops had been to East Timor. He said the ballot results would be announced on Saturday, ahead of the original schedule of Sept. 7.

After meeting President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace, Alatas said a United Nations peacekeeping force would be considered for later deployment if the Aug. 30 ballot showed East Timorese preferred to separate from Indonesia.

In line with the May 5 agreement between Indonesia, Portugal and the UN in New York, Indonesian police would remain responsible for security in East Timor "until the acceptance of the government accountability report or recommendations to the People's Consultative Assembly", he said.

The Assembly's General Session is slated for November.

If the ballot results in East Timor's independence, an orderly transfer of authority from Indonesia to the United Nations would be arranged, according to the agreement.

"If then the UN feels a peacekeeping force is necessary, they are welcome. But not before phase three," Alatas said, referring to the period after the endorsement of East Timor's status by the Assembly. UN civilian police and military liaison officers could be increased before then, but their mandate as advisers would not change, he said.

The May 5 agreement states: "During the interim period between the popular consultation and the start of the implementation of either option, the parties request the Secretary-General to maintain an adequate UN presence in East Timor."

Despite reports of a worsening situation after the ballot, Alatas said Indonesia still intends to overcome the situation itself because the country's reputation is at stake.

A deployment of such a peacekeeping force is complicated, he said, adding that the UN had not raised the issue.

Antara reported from UN headquarters that Indonesia's permanent representative to the UN, Makarim Wibisono, had told UN Security Council president Peter van Walsum that security was improving in East Timor.

An indication, he said, was that "none of the international UN staffers has been killed in East Timor".

However, from Geneva, Reuters quoted on Friday a statement from the UN's human rights chief, Mary Robinson, which raised concern for protection of "a terrorized population."

Her statement said, "A substantial UN peacekeeping force might be needed to protect Timorese civilians and UN staff given the inability of Indonesian security forces to control the situation."

From Canberra, Antara quoted Defense Minister John Moore as saying that one month of preparations would be needed if Indonesia and the UN requested Australia to contribute to a peacekeeping force.

In New York, the deputy to the United States ambassador to the UN said on Thursday that a peacekeeping force "was not a feasible suggestion" at this time, Antara reported on Friday.

The U.S. is a permanent member of the Security Council, with veto right.

However, a UNAMET staff member, among those vacating their post in Maliana following the murder of local staff on Thursday, said a UN peacekeeping force was necessary.

Locals said they feared even more violence with the evacuation of about 76 foreign and local journalists on Friday alone. But many journalists only flew to nearby Bali, and others said they would return with better preparations.

From Canberra, Reuters reported that Australian Prime Minister John Howard called Habibie on Friday to urge the deployment of a peacekeeping force.

"We discussed the whole issue of peacekeeping," he said, adding he had stressed the safety of Australian nationals in East Timor. "I am not happy with what has occurred ... there has been lawlessness, there has been a blind eye turned to acts of terrorism," Howard said, as quoted by AFP.

From London, Reuters quoted British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook as saying on Friday that a British destroyer in the South China Seas had been put on standby in case it was required in East Timor.

While the Indonesian forces were responsible for security in East Timor he added, "I think it is important that the international community is ready to do what we can if the present violence continues."

From Sydney, the Associated Press reported on Friday that proindependence East Timorese leader in exile Jose Ramos-Horta called for international donors to freeze all aid to Indonesia, "to punish it for allegedly supporting anti-independence militias" until the militias were reigned in. He added UN peace- keepers should be deployed to save lives.

On Thursday, Asia director of Human Rights Watch Sydney Jones also urged for "immediate suspension of all military training and assistance programs to the Indonesian Army until there is some evidence that it is making a serious effort to bring its proxy militias under control". (anr/05/prb)