Date: Sat, 11 Sep 1999 13:01:57 +1000 From: "Alan Griffiths" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The following excerpt from a Department of Foreign Affairs report presented to a Senate committee in August establishes an exhaustive foreknowledge of the militia danger to UNAMET and the civilian population of East Timor. It includes the definitive statement: "There is evidence available to the Australian Government that TNI [the Indonesian military] has been actively involved in encouraging and supporting pro-integrationist militias in East Timor, including through the supply of arms." And yet, according to a record leaked to journalist Brian Toohey, the head of DFAT, Ashton Calvert argued strongly against a peacekeeping force during talks in Washington in February with a senior American State Department official, Stanley Roth. Toohey's full report can be seen on the web at http://www.multiline.com.au/~johnm/armsaid.htm The Australian Government has claimed credit for prompting BJ Habibie to authorise the holding of the fateful consultation plebiscite. It is now obvious that, in pursuit of Indonesian trade interests, the Australian Government also connived to remove any chance of an armed UN peacekeeping presence at the time when it was needed and when it would probably have prevented the subsequent slaughter. Not the least of the consequences has been the exposure of the Australian nation to justified charges of cowardice - and pressure on a small force of young Australian soldiers to offer themselves as cannon fodder to appease the shame of the so-called international community. Brian Jenkins StopMAI Coalition (Western Australia) * * * [Excerpt from August 1999 submission by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) to the Australian Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee Enquiry into East Timor .] Full text (pdf): http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/sea/indonesia/et/east_timor0899.pdf [7] (page number of source document) The security environment The Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) have maintained a significant presence in East Timor since December 1975. Exact figures are very difficult to ascertain, particularly given the difficulty distinguishing between permanent combat troops and other non-combatant and temporary troop replacements. Continuing conflict between TNI and resistance groups has been a persistent feature of East Timor's security environment since integration. More recently, and particularly since January 1999, conflict in East Timor has involved pro-integrationist militant groups, of which there are three sub-categories: ** Wanra: militant groups established and equipped by TNI as security auxiliaries. The Government of Indonesia argues that these elements exist in all provinces and have legitimate security activities across the archipelago. There are probably about 12 such groups in existence in East Timor, including Alfa (Los Palos), Halilintar (Maliana), Sera and Saka (Baucau). ** Pro-integrationist militant groups, most commonly referred to as militias or paramilitaries: we estimate there are around 25 such groups in East Timor. These groups [ page 8 ] have sprung up since early 1999 and include Besi Merah Putih (Liquica), Aitarak (Dili) and Mahidi (Ainaro). ** Paramilitary groups set up by TNI some years ago: including Gadapaksi (sometimes also referred to as 'ninja'). They now have strong connections with the pro-integrationist militant groups and many members may already have moved across to the newer groups. It is very difficult to estimate membership of these groups accurately. There is some overlapping membership between the three categories, although it is impossible to determine how much. On 19 April the Indonesian authorities announced that pamswakarsa or "neighbourhood defence units", would be established in East Timor. Such units exist across the archipelago, established to assist the police in maintaining security. In East Timor they appear to be largely comprised of pre-existing militant groups. The Australian Government has expressed its concern to the Indonesian authorities that the formation of such groups as a means by which to legitimise civil militias would be in contravention of the Tripartite Agreement. Violent incidents involving these groups have been frequent throughout 1999 and have resulted in loss of life and serious human rights abuses, notably in but not confined to Suai (24-5 January and 21-22 April), Liquica (5-6 April) and Dili (17 April). Daily campaigns of intimidation by armed pro-integration groups have become a feature of life in Dili and elsewhere and have led to the burning of property, violent clashes, death, kidnappings, sexual violence and other forms of intimidation. There have also been a number of serious attacks and killings perpetrated by Falintil against military and police personnel, as well as pro-integrationist civilians. It is very difficult to get a clear picture of the exact nature of these events, including numbers of deaths, the identity of the perpetrators and who may have ordered or sanctioned various human rights abuses. Ongoing violence has also resulted in large scale internal dislocation of people, many of whom are now living under appalling humanitarian conditions. In July 1999 the number of internally displaced people (IDPs) was at between 40,000 and 60,000, although UNAMET have indicated that some IDPs have recently begun to return to their homes. (Australian assistance to IDPs is detailed in part 2). Although the deployment of UNAMET staff has led to some improvement in the security environment in recent weeks, the security situation and its implications for the ballot remain of concern. The situation in the western districts and the plight of IDPs remain of particular concern. The UN Secretary-General's 22 June and 20 July Reports to the Security Council (S/1999/705 and S/1999/803) provide the UN Secretary-General's assessment of the security situation, with which the Australian Government concurs. TNI links with the militias Violence and intimidation have continued to be carried out with impunity by pro-integration militias. There is a widespread belief that they have been acting with the aquiescence of members of TNI. There is evidence available to the Australian Government that TNI has been actively involved in encouraging and supporting pro-integrationist militias in East Timor, including through the supply of arms. Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.alexia.net.au/~www/mhutton/index.html Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink
