Subject: UN Press Release: SC Authorizes
Multinational Force in ET
Date: Fri, 17 Sep 1999 12:59:59 -0400 15 September 1999
Press Release SC/6727
SECURITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZES MULTINATIONAL FORCE IN EAST TIMOR
Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter, the Security Council early this morning
authorized the establishment of a multinational force under a unified command structure to
restore peace and security in East Timor, to protect and support the United Nations
Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) and to facilitate humanitarian assistance operations there.
As it unanimously adopted resolution 1264 (1999), the Council also authorized the
States participating in the multinational force to take all necessary measures to fulfil
that mandate. It agreed that the force should be collectively deployed in East Timor until
replaced by a United Nations peacekeeping operation. The Secretary-General was invited to
make recommendations on such an operation.
The Council also invited the Secretary-General to prepare for a United Nations
transitional administration in East Timor, incorporating a peacekeeping operation, to be
deployed in the implementation phase of the popular consultation, and to make
recommendations to the Council as soon as possible.
Deeply concerned by the deterioration in the security situation in East Timor, the
Council condemned all acts of violence there, called for their immediate end and demanded
that those responsible for such acts be brought to justice. It stressed the responsibility
of the Indonesian authorities to take immediate and effective measures to ensure the safe
return of refugees to East Timor.
The Council further underlined the Government of Indonesia’s responsibility to
maintain peace and security in East Timor in the interim phase between the conclusion of
the popular consultation and the start of the implementation of its result, and to
guarantee the security of the personnel and premises of UNAMET.
Welcoming the offers by Member States to organize, lead and contribute to the
multinational force, the Council called on Member States to make further contributions of
personnel, equipment and other resources. It requested the leadership of the multinational
force to provide periodic reports on progress towards the implementation of its mandate,
the first report to be made within 14 days of the adoption of today’s resolution.
Stressing that the expenses for the multinational force would be borne by participating
Member States, the Council requested the Secretary-General to Security Council -1a - Press
Release SC/6727 4045th Meeting (AM) 15 September1999
establish a trust fund through which contributions could be channelled to the States or
operations concerned.
Statements were made by the Foreign Ministers of Portugal, Indonesia and Australia. The
representatives of Japan, Finland, on behalf of the European Union and associated
countries, and New Zealand also spoke.
The meeting, which began at 2:12 a.m., was adjourned at 2:55 a.m.
Work Programme
The Security Council met this morning to consider the question of East Timor. It had
before it the report of the Security Council mission to Jakarta and Dili (document
S/1999/976), which accords the “topmost priority” to the grave humanitarian
crisis in East Timor.
The mission recommends that the Council: welcome the decision of the Indonesian
Government to invite an international peacekeeping force to cooperate with Indonesia in
restoring peace and security in East Timor; adopt a resolution without delay to provide a
framework for the implementation of such a proposal; consider authorizing an advance party
of the international security presence for urgent and essential tasks in and around Dili
related to the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) and the provision of
humanitarian supplies; and institute an investigation of abuses of international
humanitarian law since 4 September.
The mission reached its conclusions and recommendations following discussions with
high-level Indonesian Government officials in Jakarta and a tour of the East Timor capitol
of Dili. Expressing shock at the destruction in Dili, the loss of confidence in local
forces and the desperate state of the displaced population, the mission calls attention to
the involvement of large elements of the Indonesian military and police in organizing and
backing the violent actions of the militia.
The report states that Indonesian authorities are either unwilling or unable
to provide for the peaceful implementation of the 5 May Agreement. That Agreement
calls for the peaceful and orderly transfer of authority in East Timor to the
United Nations, which would initiate the procedure enabling East Timor to begin the
process of transition towards independence. Further, says the report, the
imposition of martial law on 7 September had not succeeded in stabilizing the
situation and there is strong evidence of abuses of international humanitarian law.
Included in the report is an analysis by UNAMET on the situation there since 4
September. According to the analysis, what has happened “is nothing less than a
systematic implementation of a ‘scorched earth’ policy in East Timor, under the
direction of the Indonesian military”. The UNAMET analysis describes widespread
destruction in Dili and refers to massive forced displacement of the population to refugee
camps in West Timor and efforts to permanently displace refugees around Indonesia.
Furthermore, it states that the militia and the Indonesian Army are engaging in selective
execution of students, intellectuals and activists and are responsible for the
disappearance of large groups of people and mass killings in various locations, including
Dili and the internally displaced persons camp in the church in Suai.
Also before the Council is a 14 September letter from the Foreign Minister of Australia
to the Secretary-General (document S/1999/975) in which the Foreign Minister informs the
Secretary-General that Australia would be willing to accept the leadership of a proposed
multinational force in East Timor and was prepared to make a substantial contribution to
the force itself.
Australia had been active in encouraging a wide range of countries to participate in
the force, the Foreign Minister states, and looked forward to working with regional and
other countries to help resolve the situation in East Timor and, as an interim measure, to
help bring the United Nations mandated tripartite process back on track until such time as
a United Nations peacekeeping operation could be deployed.
Draft Resolution
The Council also had before it a draft resolution (document S/1999/977), which reads as
follows:
“The Security Council,
“Recalling its previous resolutions and the statements of its President on the
situation in East Timor,
“Recalling also the Agreement between Indonesia and Portugal on the question of
East Timor of 5 May 1999 and the Agreements between the United Nations and the Governments
of Indonesia and Portugal of the same date regarding the modalities for the popular
consultation of the East Timorese through a direct ballot and security arrangements
(S/1999/513, Annexes I to III),
“Reiterating its welcome for the successful conduct of the popular consultation of
the East Timorese people of 30 August 1999 and taking note of its outcome, which it
regards as an accurate reflection of the views of the East Timorese people,
“Deeply concerned by the deterioration in the security situation in East Timor,
and in particular by the continuing violence against and large-scale displacement and
relocation of East Timorese civilians,
“Deeply concerned also at the attacks on the staff and premises of the United
Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), on other officials and on international and
national humanitarian personnel,
“Recalling the relevant principles contained in the Convention on the Safety of
United Nations and Associated Personnel adopted on 9 December 1994,
“Appalled by the worsening humanitarian situation in East Timor, particularly as
it affects women, children and other vulnerable groups,
“Reaffirming the right of refugees and displaced persons to return in safety and
security to their homes,
“Endorsing the report of the Security Council Mission to Jakarta and Dili
(S/1999/976),
“Welcoming the statement by the President of Indonesia on 12 September 1999 in
which he expressed the readiness of Indonesia to accept an international peacekeeping
force through the United Nations in East Timor,
“Welcoming the letter from the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia to the
Secretary-General of 14 September 1999 (S/1999/975),
“Reaffirming respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Indonesia,
“Expressing its concern at reports indicating that systematic, widespread and
flagrant violations of international humanitarian and human rights law have been committed
in East Timor, and stressing that persons committing such violations bear individual
responsibility,
“Determining that the present situation in East Timor constitutes a threat to
peace and security,
“Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, > “1.
Condemns all acts of violence in East Timor, calls for their immediate end and demands
that those responsible for such acts be brought to justice;
“2. Emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated humanitarian assistance and the
importance of allowing full, safe and unimpeded access by humanitarian organizations and
calls upon all parties to cooperate with such organizations so as to ensure the protection
of civilians at risk, the safe return of refugees and displaced persons and the effective
delivery of humanitarian aid;
“3. Authorizes the establishment of a multinational force under a unified command
structure, pursuant to the request of the Government of Indonesia conveyed to the
Secretary-General on 12 September 1999, with the following tasks: to restore peace and
security in East Timor, to protect and support UNAMET in carrying out its tasks and,
within force capabilities, to facilitate humanitarian assistance operations, and
authorizes the States participating in the multinational force to take all necessary
measures to fulfil this mandate;
“4. Welcomes the expressed commitment of the Government of Indonesia to cooperate
with the multinational force in all aspects of the implementation of its mandate and looks
forward to close coordination between the multinational force and the Government of
Indonesia;
“5. Underlines the Government of Indonesia's continuing responsibility under the
Agreements of 5 May 1999, taking into account the mandate of the multinational force set
out in paragraph 3 above, to maintain peace and security in East Timor in the interim
phase between the conclusion of the popular consultation and the start of the
implementation of its result and to guarantee the security of the personnel and premises
of UNAMET;
“6. Welcomes the offers by Member States to organize, lead and contribute to the
multinational force in East Timor, calls on Member States to make further contributions of
personnel, equipment and other resources and invites Member States in a position to
contribute to inform the leadership of the multinational force and the Secretary-General;
“7. Stresses that it is the responsibility of the Indonesian authorities to take
immediate and effective measures to ensure the safe return of refugees to East Timor;
“8. Notes that Article 6 of the Agreement of 5 May 1999 states that the
Governments of Indonesia and Portugal and the Secretary-General shall agree on
arrangements for a peaceful and orderly transfer of authority in East Timor to the United
Nations, and requests the leadership of the multinational force to cooperate closely with
the United Nations to assist and support those arrangements;
“9. Stresses that the expenses for the force will be borne by the participating
Member States concerned and requests the Secretary-General to establish a trust fund
through which contributions could be channelled to the States or operations concerned;
“10. Agrees that the multinational force should collectively be deployed in East
Timor until replaced as soon as possible by a United Nations peacekeeping operation, and
invites the Secretary-General to make prompt recommendations on a peacekeeping operation
to the Security Council;
“11. Invites the Secretary-General to plan and prepare for a United Nations
transitional administration in East Timor, incorporating a United Nations peacekeeping
operation, to be deployed in the implementation phase of the popular consultation (phase
III) and to make recommendations as soon as possible to the Security Council;
“12. Requests the leadership of the multinational force to provide periodic
reports on progress towards the implementation of its mandate through the
Secretary-General to the Council, the first such report to be made within 14 days of the
adoption of this resolution;
“13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.
Action on Draft
The Council voted unanimously to adopt resolution 1264 (1999)
Statements
JAIME GAMA, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Portugal, said the security and humanitarian
conditions in East Timor had not improved and there had been alarming reports of continued
brutality, of violence against refugees and internally displaced persons, of major food
and medicine shortages. The UNAMET had been forced to withdraw from its headquarters.
Those events were completely unacceptable and were hard evidence of Indonesia's inability
to maintain peace and stability in the Territory.
He said the multinational force would have to respond to the shocking situation on the
ground and that must be the sole precondition for its structure and composition. It was
the responsibility of the international community to ensure that the will of the East
Timorese people would be respected without any additional suffering. He urged Indonesia to
cooperate fully. Portugal stood ready to participate in the multinational force. It was
also prepared to deploy a significant aid operation and was ready to arrive in Dili as
soon as adequate security conditions were met.
He said he was encouraged by the announcement by the High Commissioner for Human Rights
that the President of Indonesia accepted her proposal to set up a joint commission of
inquiry on human rights violations. Those endeavours must be thoroughly pursued.
ALI ALATAS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, said that following the visit of
the Indonesian Armed Forces Commander, General Wiranto, to East Timor, the Indonesian
Government came to the conclusion that it was now the appropriate time to request the
United Nations for cooperation on dealing with the security situation in East Timor. As
President B.J. Habibie had said in an address to the nation, "Too many people have
lost their lives since the beginning of the unrest, lost their homes and security. We
cannot wait longer. We have to stop the suffering and mourning immediately."
In a spirit of cooperation and flexibility, the Indonesian Government had placed no
conditions on the multinational force to be deployed in East Timor, he continued. However,
there were several details that were being worked out between Indonesia and the United
Nations at the present time. Those concerned, in particular, clarifications regarding the
deployment of the multinational force, including its composition and its command
structure, as well as the modalities of cooperation defining the respective duties and
responsibilities of the Indonesian defence forces and the multinational force. Indonesia's
main objective was to further enhance the effectiveness of the common effort to restore
peace and security in East Timor as quickly as possible. He assured the Council that
adequate measures would be taken for the safety and security of those rendering
humanitarian aid.
He said that countries in the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) region
were uniquely placed to serve in the multinational force, as they, more than any other
countries, understood the regional characteristics, dimensions and sensitivities of the
problem. Particular consideration should, therefore, be given to ASEAN countries'
participation in the composition of such a multinational force. It was also imperative
that the multinational force conduct itself in an impartial manner, so that its presence
in East Timor would be credible. It should endeavour to earn the confidence of the
conflicting parties, while ensuring that its actions did not further exacerbate an already
difficult situation. Indonesia, for its part, would extend its cooperation to facilitate
the task entrusted to the multinational force, he said.
ALEXANDER DOWNER, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia, said that at the
Secretary-General's request, Australia was willing to accept the leadership of the
multinational force. It looked forward to working with regional and other countries to
build a genuinely multinational force that would help bring the United Nations mandated
tripartite process back on track, until such time as a United Nations peacekeeping
operation could be deployed.
It was important that the multinational force be deployed quickly, he said. Australia
was working with other contributors to ensure the earliest possible arrival of the force.
He encouraged other Member States that were in a position to do so to contribute
generously to the Trust Fund being established to facilitate participation in the force by
a wide range of countries.
Australia was also ready to assist in providing urgent humanitarian assistance, he
said. It was also willing to assist in the process of a peaceful reconciliation among the
East Timorese people.
MARJATTA RASI (Finland) spoke on behalf of the European Union, and the associated
countries of Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland,
Romania, Slovakia, Cyprus and Malta, as well as the EFTA countries members of the EEA,
Iceland and Lithuania. She said Indonesia's commitment to the full implementation of the 5
May Agreement was imperative.
She condemned the acts of terror in East Timor which had been perpetrated with the
complicity of the Indonesian armed forces and police and said the Government of Indonesia
remained responsible for law and order in the Territory. She looked forward to the
immediate deployment of the international force and welcomed the early Council decision to
enable the rapid deployment of an international presence.
She said that the European Union's Foreign Ministers had agreed for a period of months,
on an embargo on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment, a ban on the supply
of equipment that might be used for internal repression or terrorism and a suspension of
bilateral military cooperation. It would decide, in light of the situation after that
period, on a possible further suspension.
Stressing that an urgent priority was to remedy the grave humanitarian situation, she
urged the Indonesian Government to take no action that would further endanger the lives of
the internally displaced persons in East Timor. She also called on the Indonesian
Government to allow the safe return of international humanitarian organizations and
agencies to East Timor without delay.
YUKIO SATOH (Japan) said Japan strongly deplored the deterioration of the security
situation and the grave humanitarian crisis that had occurred in East Timor after the
result of the popular consultation was announced. The international community must
cooperate in organizing and deploying the necessary forces as quickly as possible.
He said that it was clear that the resolution was but the first step in the difficult
and complex process of restoring peace and order in East Timor and implementing the result
of the popular consultation of 30 August. The task confronting the multinational force
would by no means be easy and it was absolutely essential that the Indonesian authorities
extend them their full cooperation.
He said the immediate task in East Timor was three-fold. First, law and order in East
Timor had to be quickly restored. All acts of violence must end immediately and the forced
displacement of people to West Timor must cease immediately. Another task was to ensure an
appropriate environment in which the UNAMET staff could return to East Timor and the
mission could resume its operations. Finally, an environment in which humanitarian
activities could be safely carried out must be established, so that assistance could be
extended to those who had been the victims of violence and whose homes and property had
been destroyed.
MICHAEL POWLES (New Zealand) said his country would be among the earliest participants,
with others from the region, in the deployment of a multinational force to East Timor.
Speed was of the essence in view of the gravity of the humanitarian situation there.
He said cooperation from all arms of the Indonesian Government would be critical to the
success of the operation authorized tonight and he welcomed Indonesia’s pledges of
full cooperation in dealing with the crisis. New Zealand was among those countries that
had urged Indonesia to invite an international peacekeeping presence and had done so as a
friend and regional partner.
He said he wanted to place on the record New Zealand’s expectation of the early
replacement of the multinational force by a United Nations peacekeeping operation, as
envisaged in the resolution.
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