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.