| Subject:
Interview: U.S. backs Australia to lead in E.Timor
INTERVIEW-U.S. backs Australia to lead in
E.Timor
By Joanne Collins
DILI, East Timor, Dec 4 (Reuters) - The
United States' top general on Saturday backed Australia to head an
11,000-strong U.N. peacekeeping force in East Timor from early next year.
This puts the United States at odds with
some Asian nations which have criticised Australia's role as head of a
multinational force which went into the ravaged territory in September to
help end a campaign of murder and destruction by pro-Jakarta gangs.
``There are a number of nations who could
be in competition to lead...but certainly the Australians have done a
great job. A continuation of the Australians, I think, would be great,''
the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Henry Shelton,
told Reuters during a one-day visit to East Timor.
The U.N. force is due to replace the
7,500-strong international intervention force early next year to help
ravaged East Timor in the transition to independence.
Australia, the Philippines and Thailand
have all been touted as possible leaders.
Several Filipino military officers have
been interviewed as possible candidates to head the new force.
TIMORESE VOICE OBJECTIONS
But East Timorese leaders are opposed to
any southeast Asian nations being in charge, saying they have too often
sided with Indonesia during its often brutal 23-year rule in the tiny
territory which in August voted overwhelmingly to go independent.
The mission is destined to be one of the
United Nations' most expensive, costing an estimated $700 million to $1
billion in its first full year.
The U.N. force is expected to stay for
two to three years.
The size of the force is particularly
sensitive for the United States, which will finance 25 to 30 percent of
the operation.
The issue remains whether the U.N. force
needs to be as large as originally agreed, given that the current force of
7,500 has all but completed its mandate of securing the territory.
``They (Australia) certainly have laid a
great framework for being able to bring the force down in the future,''
said Shelton.
``But I don't know what the final size
will be...that hasn't been determined yet.''
REFUGEES, ARMY ROLE TO DETERMINE
US/INDONESIA RELATIONS
Shelton said military relations with
Indonesia would be reviewed pending the return of refugees from West
Timor, the Indonesian half of the island.
The U.S. stopped weapons sales and
suspended military ties with Jakarta in protest at the Indonesian
military's support of anti-independence militias in East Timor.
``We are not back on a full scale
military-to-military (relationship) at this point, but we are optimistic
it will continue,'' Shelton said.
``Certainly, the recent elections and the
president's new establishment of civil control over the military and some
of the changes that have taken place, I think all bodes well for the
future.
``But again, the proof is in the
pudding...so we have to wait and see how this plays out and what the TNI's
(Indonesian military's) role is going to be in the future.''
An estimated 250,000 East Timorese were
driven out of the territory in the violence that followed the August 30
vote for independence.
More than 100,000 East Timorese have
since returned but many remain in West Timor where they have been subject
to intimidation and harassment by pro-Jakarta militia groups.
03:25 12-04-99
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