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U.S. Expects Indonesia to Protect People of East Timor

(Awaits results of UN survey before taking new steps) (560)
By Susan Ellis
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- The United States is not contemplating direct U.S.
military intervention in East Timor, the Defense Department said
September 7.
During the regular Pentagon briefing, Spokesman Kenneth Bacon said
President B.J. Habibie of Indonesia has promised to honor the results
of the plebiscite held August 30, in which the overwhelming vote was
for independence from Indonesia. Habibie has promised to provide the
necessary security to the people of East Timor, Bacon said. "We expect
him to use his military to meet that part of his pledge."
There have been "regrettable and unfortunate problems in East Timor,"
Bacon continued. "We're hoping that now that the plebiscite is over,
the Indonesian military can provide protection to people in its own
country; people who have voted for independence as well as people who
voted against independence."
There are signs that the Indonesian Army is "working more
aggressively" to stabilize the situation on the ground," he said,
adding that the Indonesian Army provided a battalion of non-indigenous
forces from outside East Timor to turn back an assault by the militia
groups against United Nations personnel the night of September 6.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has sent a team to East Timor to
evaluate the world body's role there, if any, Bacon said. "They'll
look at what the Indonesian military is doing or not doing to provide
protection. They'll look at the status of the militia groups,
including their armaments, and they'll look at the general security of
the UN workers there primarily, and come back with an assessment.
"Obviously, the security has been marked more by lapses than successes
recently, but we're hopeful that now that the plebiscite is over and
it's clear what's going on, that the Indonesian military will take on
its role of providing security," he said.
Bacon said the U.S. position vis-a-vis further violence in East Timor
is very clear. "We are going to continue to encourage the Indonesian
authorities to provide security. Second, we are going to await the
report of the UN survey team, and when we have information in hand,
we'll decide what to do."
The United States supported the plebiscite in East Timor, Bacon said.
"We've made it very clear to the Indonesians that we expect them to
provide security and order in East Timor and so far they have not done
enough of that."
The violence, Bacon said, is clearly destabilizing this area. "We do
have an interest in maintaining peace and order in that important part
of the world." Maintaining this stability, however, "is the job right
now for the Indonesian forces to perform in East Timor," Bacon said.
"President Habibie and Chief of Staff Wiranto have both made pledges
that the Indonesian military will do its job and provide security,"
Bacon said. "We expect them to meet those pledges. Second, Indonesia
has not requested outside help. It said it can take care of the
problem itself. We encourage them to take care of the problem ... and
to provide the security necessary in East Timor. We're talking about
the protection of Indonesian people in East Timor and that is first
and foremost the job of the Indonesian authorities to perform."