[Kabar-indonesia] IFET Urges Fully Integrated UN Mission, calls for Australian troops to forego separate command

[John M Miller]

International Federation for East Timor Urges Fully Integrated UN Mission

Calls for Australian troops to forego separate command

For immediate release
Contact: John M. Miller +1-718-596-7668; cell: 917-690-4391
Charles Scheiner, +1-914-831-1098; cell: +1-914-473-3185

August 25 - The International Federation for East Timor (IFET) today 
said that the Security Council should create a new UN mission to 
Timor-Leste which fully integrates all international military components.

"Any other arrangement will hinder the effectiveness of the overall 
mission and runs contrary to the preference of the people and 
government of Timor-Leste and the recommendations of the UN 
Secretary-General," said John M. Miller, IFET UN Representative. 
"Australia's insistence on keeping its troops under a separate, 
national command structure will make coordination difficult, 
lessening the confidence and security that the UN Mission is intended 
to provide for the people of Timor-Leste.

The Security Council is expected to pass a resolution today creating 
the new mission which defers the decision on military command 
structure, leaving the current Australian-led Joint Task Force in 
place until after the Secretary-General reports on the issue by 
October 25. Australia has so far refused to place its troops under UN 
command, and the United Nations will not create the 345-soldier 
military component of the new integrated mission if a separate 
international military force is operating in Timor-Leste.

"An integrated mission is in the best interests of everyone, 
especially the East Timorese," said Charles Scheiner, International 
Secretariat for IFET "Many people in Timor-Leste already suspect the 
motives, capability and impartiality of the Australian forces there 
now, and Australia's refusal to be part of a UN force increases that 
distrust. Delaying this issue for another two months is unlikely to 
lead to a satisfactory resolution. More likely it will increase 
confusion and resentment in Timor-Leste."

"The new UN mission has great potential to help Timor-Leste recover 
from its recent troubles and continue on the path to peace, democracy 
and prosperity. But that potential is possible only if the UN and its 
member states carefully listen to the wishes of the Timorese people," he added.

In a statement this week, the Timor-Leste NGO Forum and others in 
civil society there urged an integrated mission, saying that "there 
will be a greater degree of accountability for UN forces as it is a 
civilian led, international, neutral institution." The group 
statement added that "There is an inherently unequal relationship in 
Timor-Leste's dealings with other more powerful countries on a 
bilateral basis. Working through the UN would avoid this situation."

Several countries, including a number of Timor-Leste's neighbors, are 
willing to contribute troops but will only do so if they are part of 
an integrated UN mission.

On August 25, the Security Council is expected to authorize the new 
UN mission for at least one year. It will include a large contingent 
of UN police, support for next year's presidential and parliamentary 
elections, and improving Timor-Leste's capacity to govern itself. The 
mission will also assist Timor-Leste to continue investigations into 
serious human rights crimes committed in 1999.

IFET was formed in 1991 to support East Timor's human and political 
rights at the United Nations. It has 34 member groups from 23 countries.
Additional information can be found at 
http://www.laohamutuk.org/reports/UN/06StopAustraliaUN.html and www.etan.org.

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John M. Miller         Internet: fbp at igc.org

National Coordinator
East Timor & Indonesia Action Network:
48 Duffield St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 USA
Phone: (718)596-7668      Fax: (718)222-4097
Mobile phone: (917)690-4391  Skype: john.m.miller
Web site: http://www.etan.org

Send a blank e-mail message to info at etan.org to find out
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