| Subject: AAP: UN could keep peace in an independent
East Timor From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org> UN could keep peace in an independent East Timor By Karen Polglaze, South East Asia Correspondent JAKARTA, Feb 1 AAP - Indonesia has raised the prospect of a United Nations peacekeeping force taking over security if East Timor is cut loose from the republic. The surprise announcement last week that independence was a possibility has given rise to some trepidation, with hundreds of school teachers posted to the troubled province pleading for transfers. Meanwhile, calm has been restored in the latest hotspot, the town of Suai, about 100km south-west of the capital, Dili, and more than half of the 5,000 refugees who had fled there after attacks in the region by pro-integration militia have begun returning home. Foreign Minister Ali Alatas's announcement that Indonesia's highest legislative body would be asked to release the former Portuguese colony should its people reject Indonesia's offer of autonomy within the republic as a final solution, has provoked widespread fear of civil war. Although he did not say that Indonesia would request a UN peacekeeping force, Information Minister Yunus Yosfiah raised the possibility that Indonesia might yet be preparing for the honourable exit Alatas described. "Surely, if (East Timor) has been released, perhaps the responsibility for the territory's security might be handed over to the UN," Yunus was reported as saying by Kompas newspaper. Fears that Indonesia would simply walk out of the province they invaded in 1975 and annexed in 1976 remain high. Indonesia's military, known as ABRI, has been recruiting locals for a pro-integration militia to combat the remnants of the armed Fretilin resistance which wants an independent East Timor. Admittedly, inadequate training of over-emotional youths who have taken up the offer was in evidence when a group opened fire at demonstrators outside a downtown Dili hotel last week while East Timor military commander Colonel Tono Suratman was inside. Today, about 300 pro-independence protesters held a peaceful demonstration in Dili. Reports from Dili say residents from elsewhere in Indonesia are already packing their bags, but AJP Ringu, spokesman for the Dili office of state sea transport company, Pelni, said fewer people than usual departed on Friday's ferry. would all be offered transfers, according to East Timor Education and Culture Department head Andry Sutardi. "The directorate general is anticipating that if East Timor really does split from Indonesia, the government can take immediate steps to place the teachers in other Indonesian regions," Andry told official newsagency Antara. Attacks by the militia, known as Rati, had ceased in the region surrounding Suai where last week four people were killed. Two children later died of diarrhoea and fever after thousands fled to the sanctuary of the catholic church in the town. Local priest Father Hilario Madeira said the situation had returned to normal and the markets were open with basic foods freely available at stable prices. Local government administrators, many of them non-East Timorese, were still at their posts. But security concerns remained. "I don't say that the security is 100 per cent guaranteed," Hilario told AAP. "Security is in ABRI's hands. We hope they protect the people." Hilario's concerns were echoed by Suai refugee coordinator Adrianus Nascimento who said the refugees had been forced to return to their homes without a security guarantee because of health concerns in the camp and because the government refused to take responsibility for them. "We are forced to go home although we are terrorised, we surrender, he said." The UN has never recognised Indonesia's right to rule in East Timor, although Australia does. The UN regards former colonial power Portugal as the administering authority and is brokering talks in New York between Indonesia and Portugal on the future of the territory. Back to February Menu |