Secretary Cohen Sept. 19 News Briefing in Bangkok
DoD News Briefing
Secretary of Defense William Cohen
September 19, 2000
(Press conference in Bangkok, Thailand)
Secretary Cohen: I came here from Indonesia where I met with Sergio
Vieira de Mello, the U.N. transitional administrator in East Timor.
He is encouraged by the progress that he sees in East Timor. Work is
underway to create a new police force; reconstruction is moving ahead,
and the foundations for political and financial institutions are being
laid. While the security situation has improved dramatically, militia
groups are still causing problems. In my meetings with Indonesian
leaders, I made it clear that Indonesia must act aggressively to
disarm and disband these militia groups and hold their leaders and
supporters accountable for their atrocities.
...
Q: Gary Thomas, Voice of America. Mr. Secretary, is the problem in
Indonesia that the government is either unwilling or is unable to
control the militias in Timor? And, the corollary to that is are you
concerned that the government does not have control of its own
military?
Cohen: Well, I'm not satisfied that the government doesn't have
control of its military. I have had discussions with President Wahid,
and I spoke yesterday with Vice President Megawati. I made it clear
that to establish civilian control over the military, it is important
to dismantle, disband, and disarm the militia operating out of West
Timor. And to bring to the bars of justice some kind of accountability
for past abuses. Obviously, Indonesia is facing a number of challenges
and they have to measure up to those challenges in the near future. It
remains to be seen whether they are willing and able. I believe they
are able. The question is: Do they have the will to do this? We have
to see whether that will is present.
...
Q: Richard Erlich with the Washington Times. In the terms of economic
pressure that you might be putting on Indonesia if they don't control
the militias, since you've cut off most military aid to Indonesia,
what form of economic pressure, specifically, would be next? And,
where did the USS Lincoln go when she went west from here? Did she go
to the Gulf because of Saddam Hussein?
Cohen: The Lincoln will be on its way to the Gulf. With respect to
Indonesia's economic situation, what I tried to point out is that the
international community was seriously upset with what has taken place
in East Timor. That after the government of Indonesia had issued a
security guarantee for the UNHCR staff people to go back and provide
humanitarian aid to the East Timorese, that we saw a situation where
the militias were able to murder someone. So, the international
community was very, the reaction was very strong, that's the reason
for the passage of the resolution demanding that the Indonesian
government take action to disarm, disband, and bring to justice those
that have committed these atrocities. We also saw a signal coming from
Jim Wolfenson indicating that there may be a lack of eagerness to
continue economic assistance if there is not some demonstrable
evidence that the Indonesia government is prepared to deal effectively
with this issue, as well as, making sure that it brings its military
under civilian control. So I think that the leaders that I spoke to
understand the gravity of the situation, and, we want Indonesia to
succeed. We do not want to see a division of Indonesia. There were
some rumors, false rumors circulating that the action on the part of
the West was really responsible for this activity taking place in the
East-West Timor with the alternative motive of somehow trying to lead
to a break up of Indonesia. That is categorically false. Those rumors
were started to try to divert attention from what is really taking
place. We, and the United States, and indeed the international
community, want to see a united Indonesia. Because we believe that
that unity is important for stability for the present and for the
future. What the international community is sending in the way of
signals is for Indonesia to get control over the situation in East
Timor. They voted for independence -- that must be respected, and they
have the ability to go in and deal with the militia who have been
receiving some support, apparently from ex-military types in recent
weeks and months and that must stop. And so they have the ability to
go in and to disarm them and that is precisely what the U.N.
Resolutions are calling for.
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