DATE=9/2/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA - EAST TIMOR
NUMBER=2-253361
BYLINE=BRONWYN CURRAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations top envoy on East Timor
says armed U-N peacekeepers are not needed in the
troubled territory, despite two days of violence.
The official is in Jakarta, where Bronwyn Curran
reports, Indonesian government and military
officials have promised to take steps to curb the
lawlessness.
TEXT: The U-N special envoy on East Timor,
Jamsheed Marker, held urgent talks with
Indonesia's Foreign Minister Ali Alatas and
Military Commander General Wiranto.
The meeting came a day after a rampage by anti-
independence militias outside the U-N
headquarters in East Timor's capital Dili. The
slow response of Indonesian police has heightened
calls for the U-N to send armed peacekeepers to
the territory.
But after meeting with the Foreign Minister and
military chief, Mr. Marker said U-N troops are
not necessary.
// ACT MARKER //
As things stand now there is going to be an
increase of military liaison officers, we think
that should be sufficient.
// END ACT //
The U-N envoy said he is satisfied with promises
from General Wiranto that his forces in East
Timor will deal with violence from pro-Jakarta
militias, as well as their pro-independence
rivals.
// ACT: MARKER //
He gave me the guarantee that if there was
trouble he would take care of it. He cannot
guarantee that there will be no trouble because
he doesn't make the trouble. But if there is
trouble he gave me reasonable assurances that
measures have been taken to keep it under
control. He will take measures, the necessary
steps, against anyone from any side or any group
that created trouble.
// END ACT //
But despite those assurances, Indonesia's Justice
Minister Muladi said Thursday the introduction of
a U-N force would be worth considering, if the
security situation deteriorates. But he
underlines the government of President B-J
Habibie prefers to handle the crisis on its own.
Meanwhile, the military's chief spokesman
Brigadier General Sudrajat is defending the
actions of the security forces in East Timor,
against criticism they acted too slowly on
Wednesday. He told VOA the military has no
hesitation apprehending the perpetrators of
violence.
// SUDRAJAT ACT //
The police backed up by the military will enforce
the law because we are prepared to arrest them
and to investigate.
// END ACT //
The Brigadier General says the military has made
several arrests on both sides during the past
week.
He denies police were negligently slow in
responding to yesterday's violence. He says they
were being cautious.
// SUDRAJAT ACT //
Well it's not easy to control riots especially
when two groups are conducting similar to tribal
war, because when we open the fire the bullet
can hit more than one person. That's why the
police it seems that they are late or slow, but
actually they are very careful not to open the
fire and have a risk to have casualties.
/// END ACT ///
General Wiranto also rejected criticism of the
response by the military and police. He told
reporters his troops will take every step to
ensure an international peacekeeping force is not
necessary.
(SIGNED)
NEB/BC/FC
02-Sep-1999 06:40 AM LOC (02-Sep-1999 1040 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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