Indonesia agrees to allow peacekeepers into East
Timor
Subject: Flash:
Indon invites int'l peacekeepers to East Timor these are the first news flashes, more later... Indonesia agrees to peacekeeper force He says he has instructed the United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan to invite the international forces to take part. President Habibie made the statement after an urgent meeting with the Cabinet and military leaders, including the Armed Forces chief General Wiranto. The address was delayed after a lengthy telephone conversation between President Habibie and Mr Annan. General Wiranto, the Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas, and the Justice Minister were with President Habibie during his talks with Mr Annan. Indonesia agrees to peacekeepers in East Timor "I have taken the decision to inform the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on the preparedness of the Indonesian government to accept a UN peacekeeping force," Habibie said. Subject: TEXT U.N.'s
Annan's statement on East Timor TEXT U.N.'s Annan's statement on East Timor UNITED NATIONS, Sept 12 (Reuters)
``I very much welcome the decision of the Government of Indonesia, as announced earlier today by President (B.J.) Habibie, to accept the offer of the international community to assist it in restoring peace and security in East Timor. I appreciate that it was a difficult decision. ``I look forward to the imminent arrival of Indonesian Foreign Minister (Ali) Alatas in New York to urgently finalise the details of the arrangements so that the Security Council can take rapid action and the uncertainty and suffering of the East Timorese people will not be prolonged. ``In the meantime, until the arrival of international forces under a United Nations mandate, I expect the Indonesian authorities in East Timor and the Government of Indonesia, at all levels, to do their utmost to maintain order and security in East Timor in accordance with international norms and standards for which they remain responsible under the 5 May Agreements. ``I am confident that, through this cooperation between the Government of Indonesia and the United Nations, the desire of the East Timorese people to become independent, so clearly expressed at the popular consultation (ballot) on 30 August, will be realised.'' (ends text) Subject: Ramos-Horta &
Gusmao Urge Quick Action East Timor Independence Leader Gusmao Urges Quick Action .c Kyodo News Service JAKARTA, Sept. 12 (Kyodo) - East Timor independence movement leader Xanana Gusmao urged the United Nations and the international community Sunday to take quick action following Indonesian President B.J. Habibie's acceptance of international forces for restoring peace in East Timor. Gusmao told reporters that ''now it is up to the U.N. Security Council and the international community to act speedily. There is no time to lose.'' ''I urge all those working for East Timor in the framework of setting up a multinational force to move fast,'' he said. Ramos-Horta calls for Quick Deployment of Int'l Force .c Kyodo News Service AUCKLAND, New Zealand, Sept. 13 (Kyodo) - East Timor independence leader Jose Ramos-Horta early Monday welcomed the announcement Sunday in Jakarta that Indonesia will accept an international peacekeeping force in East Timor, but said its deployment must not be delayed. ''I am pleased with the decision,'' the Nobel Peace Prize laureate said. ''What is necessary now is that the United Nations secretary general and the Security Council begin immediately the implementation of this peacekeeping force.'' On Sunday evening in Jakarta, Indonesian President B.J. Habibie announced he would invite a U.N.-sanctioned international peacekeeping force into East Timor to work with the Indonesian armed forces in restoring order to the territory. Ramos-Horta, who is in Auckland to meet with Pacific Rim leaders gathered here for trade talks, said the presence of international peacekeepers in East Timor would boost the morale of the population. But he noted that the humanitarian crisis in the territory was urgent. ''Immediately there should be an airlift of food supplies. The humanitarian crisis is a matter of hours, it's not a matter of days,'' he said. Ramos-Horta said the leadership of U.S. President Bill Clinton had been the catalyst for Jakarta's reversing its position on allowing international peacekeepers into East Timor. Over the past two days, Clinton has harshly criticized Indonesia's handling of the violence in East Timor, where pro-Jakarta militias are feared to have killed hundreds of people since the territory voted Aug. 30 to be independent from Indonesia. Subject: Jubilation
in Dili as Indon agrees to peacekeeping force Jubilation in Dili as Indonesia agrees to peacekeeping force JAKARTA, sept 12 (AFP) - Jubilation broke out in refugee camps in Dili on Sunday as Indonesia finally agreed to allow international peacekeepers to stop the bloodshed in East Timor. Journalist Marie Colvin told the Cable News Network (CNN) that refugees were coming up to her and kissing her, praising and thanking the international community. "The idea that there is going to be international armed troops ... means they are going to live," she said. Subject: CNRT: Reaction to
Habibie's statement CNRT National Council for Timorese Resistance MEDIA RELEASE For immediate release: 2330 AustralianEST, Sunday 12 September 1999 CNRT: Reaction to Habibie statement STATEMENT BY: Joao Carrascalao Head of CNRT in Australia President of UDT (Timorese Democratic Union) João Carrascalão is in Auckland for urgent talks on the East Timor issue with national leaders, foreign ministers and officials at APEC. We welcome the announcement by President Habibie that he is inviting a multinational force to enter East Timor to bring peace to our homeland. We are deeply saddened by the fact that we had to wait so long for this development, and that so many innocent East Timorese had to be murdered by the brutal Indonesian regime's so-called "defence force" before it was agreed. Further, we deeply regret that the force will not enter East Timor immediately. It will be at least days, perhaps longer, before the details are worked out. There are likely to be more killings in the interim. We are cautious about the implementation of the proposals for three major reasons:
I will seek meetings with heads of governments, ministers and officials at the APEC meeting in Auckland tomorrow and ask them to:
In the end, President Habibie was left with no choice but to invite a multinational force into East Timor after the genocidal rampages of his murderous military thugs had brought down the ire of the free nations of the world and acutely embarrassed even Indonesia's closest regional supporters. FURTHER INFORMATION: Joao Carrascalao, CNRT Spokesperson in Australia. Tel: 0418 767 101 World Leaders Contact List The East Timorese need you to speak out for them Back to September Menu |