DATE=9/27/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=E. TIMOR SECURITY (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254351
BYLINE=JOE COCHRANE
DATELINE=DILI
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: A multinational peacekeeping force in East
Timor has effectively taken over security from the
Indonesian armed forces. But the commander of the
peacekeeping mission, General Peter Cosgrove says
Indonesia still has security responsibility in the
troubled territory. As Joe Cochrance reports from
the capital, Dili, the Australian military is
apparently downplaying the transfer of power out of
deference towards Jakarta.
TEXT: Without the expected handing-over ceremony the
international force in East Timor, or INTERFET, is now
responsible for security in the strife-torn territory.
The change follows a final meeting between Australian
Major General Peter Cosgrove, commander of the United
Nations-endorsed force and Indonesian General Kiki
Syahnakri, who immediately left East Timor for
Jakarta.
More than 22-thousand Indonesian soldiers have also
left the territory in the past few days, but one
thousand-five hundred will remain in minor security
roles until Indonesia's Parliament convenes in
November to reverse its 1976 annexation of East Timor.
General Cosgrove told a news conference that
INTERFET's security job is easier now that a single
military force is in control. The General says his
forces and the Indonesian military were able to avoid
confrontations after the arrival of peacekeepers one
week ago, because of continual consultations between
them.
General Syahnakri told Indonesian journalists after
meeting General Cosgrove that he had handed over
security responsibilities to INTERFET. However,
Australian Colonel Mark Kelly, General Cosgrove's
chief of staff, claims there was no handover, adding
confusion to the day's events. Western observers in
Dili say Australia does not want to humiliate
Indonesia's military, which is reluctantly
relinquishing control of East Timor, after 24 years.
The observers say INTERFET is downplaying the change
in security responsibilities, as a face-saving
gesture.
More than three thousand military personnel from
countries including Australia, Britain, the
Philippines and Malaysia are in the territory and more
nations will join in the coming days.
General Cosgrove says INTERFET is expanding its
operations outside of Dili towards the Western half of
East Timor, where pro-Jakarta militias are reportedly
still active. He says his forces are also supporting
U-N humanitarian aid operations for some 250-thousand
refugees.
Militia groups, backed by elements within Indonesia's
armed forces waged a systematic killing, looting, and
arson campaign, after more than 75 percent of East
Timorese opted for Independence in a U-N-run
referendum last month. (Signed)
NEB/JC/FC/PLM
27-Sep-1999 04:23 AM EDT (27-Sep-1999 0823 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list
|
|
|
