Indonesia to disarm militia in West Timor, Security Council told
20 September -- An envoy of the Government of Indonesia has announced that his country plans to disarm the militias in West Timor using "persuasive and repressive" means.
In a private meeting late yesterday afternoon, the Council heard a briefing by Indonesian Special Envoy, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security Affairs, followed by a discussion in which all Council members participated.
After the meeting, Mr. Yudhoyono told the press that his country's plan to disarm the militia include a first phase - persuasion - which would conclude on 24 September. A period of law enforcement would then follow to ensure that there were no more weapons concealed or possessed by the militia.
In a communiqué issued after the talks, the Council said it had held a "frank and constructive" discussion about the need for early and full implementation of resolution 1319, which calls on the Government of Indonesia to restore law and order in West Timor, including "disarm and disband the militia immediately." Resolution 1319 was adopted on 8 September, following the murders by militia of three staff members of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Atambua, West Timor.
Meanwhile, a UN spokesman told journalists today that Iqbal Riza, Secretary-General Kofi Annan's Chef de Cabinet, had arrived in Dili for a three-day visit. Mr. Riza went today to Suai, in the western region of East Timor, to see first hand the peacekeeping operation on the border with West Timor. During his stay he will meet with the Timorese leadership, senior military and civilian officers, and the staff at large of the UN Mission, as well as with UNHCR personnel, the spokesman said.
