UN sees way to independence in East Timor

UN sees way to independence in East Timor

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters): The UN administrator for East Timor predicted on Tuesday that elections and possibly independence from Indonesia for the former Portuguese colony could take place by the end of next year.

But Sergio Vieira de Mello told the UN Security Council during an all-day debate that the devastated territory, plagued by unemployment, a dearth of skilled personnel and an army of homeless, still faced enormous obstacles before independence.

The elections would be for a constituent assembly to draft a new constitution but independence was not expected to follow immediately after the vote, he said.

Nevertheless, he added that after talks with East Timorese independence leader Xanana Gusmao, "I feel safe in predicting that elections and possible independence will take place next year at some point between Aug. 30 and the beginning of December 2001."

He said the final dates would be determined by how quickly progress could be made on attaining "minimum criteria for independence" that included reducing extreme poverty, a functioning judiciary, a reconstruction of public services and a viable administration with trained Timorese to run it.

The United Nations was mandated to run East Timor during its transition to independence after residents last Aug. 30 voted overwhelmingly to cut ties with Indonesia, which had invaded the territory in 1975 when Portugal quickly withdrew.

In protest, armed gangs allegedly organized by the Indonesian military ran amok, killing hundreds, herding a quarter of the population into camps in Indonesian-run West Timor and leaving most towns in smoldering ruins. They were repelled by an Australian-led international force.

U.S. ambassador Richard Holbrooke said he wanted to "associate our government in the strongest possible terms" with the timetable Vieira de Mello proposed.

"This would be a historic event, a single achievement for the United Nations and the world community," he said.

Vieira de Mello said Timorese shortly would be taking over for the first time portfolios in infrastructure, internal administration, economic and social affairs while finance, justice and security would stay with the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).

But many of the problems that have plagued the United Nations from the start remain: Attacks by pro-Jakarta militia who control more than 100,000 refugees in West Timor and bureaucracies within the United Nations and the World Bank in transmitting funds for promised projects.

Reports from East Timor say the militia chiefs, which had left after the violence, have slipped back into West Timor. The militia now has more arms, is attacking border positions and recently assaulted UN relief staff in the camps.

"Our sense is at least half, if not two-thirds, of the refugee population in West Timor would be prepared to return if certain conditions were met," Vieira de Mello said.

Holbrooke said the situation was "not excusable and although we support fully the government in Jakarta, we must ask again whether the Indonesian government can control the military officers on West Timor, who are certainly capable of preventing this."

British ambassador Sir Jeremy Greenstock said his country had urged Indonesia "to get a grip of the situation and that message must go out from the whole council."

In response, Indonesia's envoy, Mohammad Hamzah Thayeb, said that while Jakarta did not condone any of the violence, the refugee problem was complex, with unemployment and scarce food and shelter awaiting them in East Timor.

He said Jakarta did not condone violence or threats under any circumstances and "remained steadfast in its commitment to the East Timorese people."

Holbrooke also approved of a plan to cut down the 8,650 UN troops in East Timor by about 1,400 by next April, saying they could be pulled from the eastern part of the island, which was peaceful. But other members questioned the feasibility of any reduction without another briefing to the council.

Vieira de Mello noted that East Timor was the first time the United Nations had the sole responsibility for running a country and was often poorly equipped to handle it.

"Something is clearly not right if UNTAET can cost US$692 million whereas the complete budget of East Timor is $59 million," he said. "Can it therefore come as a surprise that there is so much criticism of UN extravagances while the Timorese continue to suffer?"

Criticisms, he said, also will continue as long as UN engineers are prevented from working on buildings other than those for UN personnel. These would include courtrooms, prisons, airports and customs posts.