UN condemns latest violence in East Timor
UN condemns latest violence in East Timor
JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations on Thursday "strongly
condemned" the latest outbreak of violence in East Timor and
called on the Indonesian government to take immediate steps to
prevent a further recurrence.
In a statement by UN spokesman Fred Eckhard in New York, a
copy of which was received by The Jakarta Post on Wednesday, UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on the Indonesian police to
arrest those responsible for the latest incidents of violence.
"The secretary-general also urged the Indonesian authorities
to take firm action to control armed groups and reminded them to
protect all UNAMET (UN Mission in East Timor) staff," Eckhard
said.
"The UN will not allow this violence to deter it from
completing arrangements for the popular consultation, so that the
will of the East Timorese people can be voiced," Annan said.
UN Security Council members also damned the violence and urged
the Indonesian government to take "immediate steps" to prevent a
recurrence of such incidents in the future.
"They demand that local authorities in East Timor take steps
to arrest those responsible for the violence and bring them to
justice," council president Arnold Peter van Walsum said on
Wednesday. The council, however, stopped short of taking any
action.
UNAMET chief Ian Martin said police took at least 20 minutes
to answer a UN call to quell the "deplorable" militia shooting
outside the mission's headquarters. He also reminded the
government that it was Indonesian leaders themselves who agreed
to ensure security before, during and after the ballot.
"I can only say the responsibility rests with the security
forces, who say they have the capability to provide security,"
Martin said.
In Washington, the United States State Department blamed
Indonesia's military police for what it called a "seriously
inadequate" initial response to the outbreak of violence in East
Timor by pro-Jakarta militias.
"Indonesia's international reputation will suffer if it fails
to abide by its commitments," State Department spokesman Philip
Reeker said on Wednesday, as quoted by AP.
Portugal, East Timor's former colonial ruler, suggested the
international community step in if Indonesia was unable to
control the situation.
"If the incidents are repeated and if Indonesia proves unable
to control the situation... then the international community
should do all it can to help Indonesia," Portugal's ambassador to
the UN, Antonio Monteiro, told Portuguese state radio RDP.
In Canberra, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer criticized the
Indonesian police for their inability to curb the violence.
"It does appear to us that the Indonesian police who are on
the ground there and the Indonesian Military are responding too
slowly and too inefficiently," he said.
Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy said his country
contacted the U.S., Australia and New Zealand as a first step
toward organizing a special meeting on East Timor on the
sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in New
Zealand later this month.
Former South African president Nelson Mandela said in
Johannesburg he was disturbed by the turbulence. "We have
condemned that in the strongest terms."
Peacekeepers
Responding to growing calls for an international peacekeeping
force to be sent to East Timor, Minister of Justice/State
Secretary Muladi indicated on Thursday Indonesia had discussed
the possibility in anticipation of escalating violence in the
territory.
Speaking to reporters after meeting with President B.J.
Habibie at Merdeka Palace, Muladi said discussions had not gone
in-depth, but acknowledged an international peacekeeping force
could become an unavoidable alternative.
"So far we have not discussed it in-depth. But as far as
developments have gone so far, automatically that is an
alternative that possibly has to be pondered," Muladi said.
Muladi said it was Indonesia's responsibility to ensure peace
and order in East Timor, if possible without foreign assistance.
"However, because it is very complex, in my personal opinion,
the possibility (of asking for outside help) must not be ruled
out," the minister said.
Muladi also criticized proautonomy militias for blocking
streets in Dili on Wednesday.
Separately, Indonesian Military (TNI) spokesman Brig. Gen.
Soedradjat hinted that the military would only accept the
presence of a foreign peacekeeping force if Monday's self-
determination vote resulted in independence.
"Of course, in any transition period there is a necessity for
the presence of a United Nations force, because logically the
Indonesian Military and the Indonesian police would have to leave
East Timor," Soedradjat said after accompanying TNI Commander
Gen. Wiranto to a meeting with the UN's special envoy for East
Timor Jamsheed Marker. (emf/prb)