SRSG EXPRESSES FRUSTRATION OVER DISARMAMENT PROCESS

SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello expressed frustration today over the process of disarming the militia in West Timor, describing it as "pathetic."

"But is was not a surprise," he added before leaving Dili for New York, where he is due to brief the United Nations Security Council on Friday. "What I am interested in as from this morning, is whether the repressive phase, which is the one I believe can work, will be more effective."

Indonesian authorities launched the disarmament effort on Friday following the September 6 killings of three UNHCR workers in West Timor and Security Council resolution 1319. Officials had said they would use force after the initial voluntary hand-over period if they believed that the militias were still hiding weapons.

"I personally never took the persuasive phase seriously," SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello said. "I do not believe that the militia will voluntarily surrender their weapons and if they will they would probably surrender the old ones and keep the modern ones."

A small United Nations delegation visited Atambua, West Timor yesterday to attend a disarmament ceremony at which Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs, and other senior Indonesian officials were present.

About a thousand weapons – most of them home made – had been put on display in the police headquarters in Atambua. After the ceremony and the departure of Vice-President Megawati and other senior Indonesian officials, a crowd formed outside the police headquarters, chanting in support of Eurico Guterres, leader of the Aitarak militia. Guterres had appeared at the police station extremely agitated.

The United Nation delegation, still in the police headquarters, was threatened and was only able to leave after the crowd disbursed one hour later.

The situation illustrates, according to SRSG Sergio Vieira de Mello, the inability of the Indonesian authorities to bring the militia under control.

"Hence my repeated calls to the Indonesian Government to have him [Eurico Guterres] and other militia commanders arrested as a matter of urgency. That, definitely, will lend credibility to the disarming and dismantling process," he said.