RI officially asks UN to take over E. Timor

JAKARTA (JP): President Abdurrahman Wahid said on Tuesday that he had officially asked the United Nations to immediately take charge of East Timor in order to help establish an independent East Timor nation.

Abdurrahman's announcement came after the 15-seat United Nations Security Council in New York on Monday voted unanimously to authorize the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) -- that will include hundreds of civilians and nearly 11,000 soldiers and police -- to lead the devastated territory to independence within two to three years.

Speaking in response to a reporter's question after the announcement of the new cabinet in Jakarta on Tuesday, President Abdurrahman said:

"I've signed a letter sent to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, notifying (the body) that Indonesia has (officially) ended its rule over East Timor."

"Thus, the UN could soon take over (the territory) and hopefully Timor Leste could be established immediately," the President told journalists.

The UNTAET peacekeeping force will comprise up to 8,950 troops, 200 military observers, 1,640 police officers and a large but unspecified number of civilian officials, Reuters reported.

Bernard Miyet, the UN undersecretary-general for peacekeeping, estimated the mission would cost US$700 million to $1 billion during the first year.

The new operation will replace the Australian-led Interfet force that moved into East Timor on Sept. 20 to restore order.

No date was given for the start of the new UN mission. Nor was it clear where funds would be obtained from. The current military operation is financed largely from troop contributing nations, such as Australia.

In theory the new UN peacekeepers, many of whom will be drawn from the current force in East Timor, are to be paid for by all member countries, with the United States responsible for at least 30 percent of the cost.

But with Washington having accumulated $1.6 billion in debts to the world body, most of it for peacekeeping, troop contributing nations may not be repaid for decades.

Annan also announced the appointment of Sergio Vieira de Mello, the Brazilian undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs, as his special representative to the government of East Timor during the transition period.

Vieira de Mello is expected to visit the territory around Nov. 7, his office said.

From Canberra, Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer on Tuesday welcomed UNTAET, saying it would ease pressure on the Australian budget.

Reuters quoted Downer as saying that Australia would scale back the number of troops deployed in East Timor to between 1,500 and 2,000 from its current 4,500 when the UN peacekeeping force takes over the mission, probably in January.

"What we have got now is a very decisive resolution -- exactly what we wanted to see -- which provides not only for a relatively smooth transition to independence for East Timor, but a capacity for Australia and Indonesia to start to rebuild their relationship," Downer said.

From the East Timor capital of Dili, the commander of Indonesia's last forces in the territory, Col. Sahala Silalahi, said that they were awaiting final orders from Jakarta to leave.

"I don't count days, weeks, months or years. As soon as I get the order I will leave quickly," Sahala said on Tuesday.

President Abdurrahman also told journalists in Jakarta that East Timor independence leader Xanana Gusmao would travel to Jakarta to meet him.

"I heard it from former foreign minister Ali Alatas that Xanana Gusmao is going to Jakarta. Hopefully, it's true and if it is Mega and I will pick him up at the airport," Wahid said. Mega is the popular name of the newly elected vice president Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Abdurrahman, however, did not say when the meeting would take place.

He also told the media that it was essential for Indonesia to remain on good terms with independent East Timor but such relations would totally depend on Australia.

"If Australia wants to be a friend of 200 million (Indonesian) people, we'll accept it. Our goal is to build a friendship but we'll not exchange it for (national) dignity and independence," Abdurrahman explained. (bsr)