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Timor-Leste

Indonesia Rejects Australia as Peacekeeping Force Member, Jeopardizing UN Mission

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The Indonesian military and parliament have rebuffed Australia's bid to join a future peacekeeping force in East Timor, causing uncertainty over the deployment of a United Nations (UN) mission. Indonesian authorities have expressed resistance to the presence of troops from countries deemed biased in favor of East Timor's independence movement, including Australia, the US, New Zealand, and Portugal. This development has created a stalemate, as UN leaders have insisted on Australia's participation in the peacekeeping force.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Indonesian military has formally rejected Australia as a member of the peacekeeping force, with Brig Gen Sudrajat stating that Indonesia wants a majority of the force to come from the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean).
  • Parliament leaders have also objected to troops from the US, New Zealand, and Portugal, citing their perceived bias in favor of East Timor's independence movement.
  • Foreign Minister Ali Alatas denied that Indonesia had placed any conditions on a UN peacekeeping mission, but the military statement caused a stir in the negotiations.
  • President B.J. Habibie's previous agreement to let in peacekeepers was apparently overturned by the military, which seems to be intent on limiting international influence in East Timor.
  • The US, Britain, and Australia, as well as UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, have rejected Indonesia's right to influence the force's composition.

Statistics:

  • Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people have died in East Timor due to Indonesia's scorched earth policy.
  • The US National Security Adviser, Sandy Berger, has stated that no aid should be forthcoming to Indonesia until peacekeepers set foot in East Timor.
  • The European Union (EU) has agreed to impose a four-month embargo on arms sales to Indonesia.

Sources:

  • Brig Gen Sudrajat, Indonesian military spokesperson
  • Ali Alatas, Indonesian Foreign Minister
  • B.J. Habibie, President of Indonesia
  • General Wiranto, Indonesian Military Commander
  • Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General
  • John Howard, Australian Prime Minister
  • Peter van Walsum, UN Security Council President
  • Sandy Berger, US National Security Adviser
  • EU foreign ministers (no specific date mentioned)

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