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)