TNI pledges cooperation with multinational force

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)