TNI pledges cooperation with multinational force
JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Military (TNI) said on Wednesday that it had accepted a United Nations Security Council decision to send an Australia-led multinational force to East Timor.
It also pledged full cooperation with the force if and when it arrives in East Timor.
Others warned of a hostile reception for the multinational force from pro-Indonesia militias, who are bitter toward the United Nations and Australia for their handling of the Aug. 30 ballot won by pro-independence East Timorese.
President B.J. Habibie welcomed Australia's role.
"Indonesia never has any hostile feeling against any other countries," Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus told reporters after a cabinet meeting at Bina Graha.
Yunus said TNI members will act as liaison officers and observers in the force.
TNI spokesman Maj. Gen. Sudrajat told reporters the military was not in any position to reject the UN decision.
"We will be very cooperative. TNI is prepared to join the multinational force if asked. But if it is not needed, we will only be too happy to stay out," he said.
"TNI will leave East Timor if it has to. It could remain there, not necessarily under the UN flag, but in its capacity to help coordinate the work to safeguard the United Nations mission."
When asked about the role of Australia in the multinational force, Sudrajat said: "People should understand that there have been bitter feelings between people in the two countries.
"Political leaders in Indonesia and Australia should understand the situation, and this should not jeopardize our bilateral relationship that has been going on very well, (but) now is slightly disrupted," he said.
In Dili, the Military Emergency Command in East Timor said it had began preparations to make way for the arrival of the multinational force.
Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri, who leads the command, told Antara that until the arrival of the UN force, TNI would continue with its job of restoring peace in East Timor, particularly in Dili.
The military has also been overseeing work to repair buildings and property destroyed during a nearly week-long "scorched-earth" campaign blamed largely on pro-Indonesia militias.
Antara reported that the priority for repair works was given to the residence of the Dili Bishop, Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo, and the buildings of humanitarian missions, including the International Commission of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
Kiki warned that feelings among pro-Indonesia militias were running high against ICRC and UNHCR workers because they felt cheated by the international community after losing the ballot.
"I can guarantee their safety as long as they request protection and are willing to be escorted by the military. But if they do their own thing, it will be at their own risk," he said.
In the West Timor border town of Atambua, a pro-Indonesia militia leader said his men would "eat the hearts" of Australians and anyone else included in a UN force, Reuters reported.
"The PPI (Command of the Pro-Integration Struggle) will eat the hearts of those that come to East Timor," PPI leader Filomeno Kornai told reporters in the border town of Atambua.
"We reject a peacekeeping force from Australia and those countries which have betrayed the Aug. 30 popular consultation."
Dewi Fortuna Anwar, a senior adviser to President Habibie warned that Australian troops could be singled out for militia attacks.
"There is a very strong feeling of animosity towards Australia, rightly or wrongly, from the pro-integration forces in East Timor," Dewi told Australia's SBS television.
Golkar Party Chairman Akbar Tandjung expressed his disappointment at the Australian role.
"We know Australia is not neutral and has its own political agenda in East Timor," Akbar told reporters.
Australia's leadership in the force could make the entire multinational force less than neutral, he said.
Political analyst Soedjati Djiwandono foresaw problems if TNI remained when the multinational force arrived.
"I am afraid the issue of cooperation between the UN force and TNI may become a bone of contention.
"It's a unique experience. We have not heard of a case in which the UN peacekeeping force cooperates with the local military ... This could be tricky," Soedjati said.
"Ideally, TNI should be withdrawn completely because I doubt that it can ever be impartial in East Timor."
Small protests took place outside the British Embassy and the Australian Embassy on Wednesday, criticizing these two countries' role in the East Timor affair.
The protests passed off without any major incidents. (prb/byg/emf/03)