Australians Are Warned: Casualties Likely in Timor 
International Herald Tribune
September 17, 1999
Michael Richardson  

Australians were warned by their political and military leaders Thursday to expect casualties among their troops when they enter East Timor, probably on Sunday or Monday, under a robust mandate approved by the United Nations Security Council.

Australia will lead the multinational force that was authorized by the council in New York on Wednesday to use "all necessary means" to restore law and order in the territory. It has been ravaged by violence that the Indonesian military was unable, or unwilling, to halt.

Canberra plans to contribute 4,500 soldiers to the 8,000-member peace-enforcement contingent that will have the power to disarm pro-Indonesian militias as well as protect UN civilian staff and foreign aid workers.

Along with 250 British Army Gurkha infantrymen from Nepal, Australians will dominate the first wave of about 2,000 troops that will enter East Timor despite warnings from Indonesia and some other Asian countries that the preponderance of "white faces" in the force could fan resistance from the militias and perhaps even some elements in the Indonesian military.

"It will be a dangerous operation," said Prime Minister John Howard of Australia. "Of course, there will be a risk of casualties. There's been a complete breakdown of law and order, that's why they're going in there."

Following a decision last week by the United States to suspend military cooperation, aid and arms sales to Indonesia over the Timor crisis, Canberra also cut defense ties as did members of the European Union and New Zealand.

But analysts said that Australia had been singled out as the ringleader in Indonesia's humiliation, both because it is an immediate neighbor and because it was at the forefront of international criticism and calls for UN military intervention in East Timor.

President B.J. Habibie of Indonesia finally approved the foreign peacekeeping effort Sunday to prevent further damage to the country's economy and reputation.

In a move that may help mollify Jakarta, the Thai Army said Thursday that it had accepted an Australian proposal, approved by the UN, to assume deputy command of the multinational force and would try to send an advance 25-man team for the first deployment.

Japan announced that it would help finance the force's operations, but did not say how much would be provided. South Korea said it would probably send about 400 infantrymen. China said it would send civilian police officers, but did not say when or how many.

The Thai Army's chief of staff, General Chokchai Hongthong, said that his country would contribute more than 1,000 soldiers to the force, including combat troops, engineers, medical teams and psychological warfare experts. He expected most of them to be in East Timor early next month.

The visiting deputy chief of the Australian Defense Force, Air Marshal Doug Riding, said that the participation of troops from the Association of South East Asian Nations, was "absolutely essential to the success of the multinational UN peacekeeping force."

Other ASEAN countries that have promised to contribute include the Philippines and Singapore.

Malaysia, which had been expected to be a major contributor and assume deputy command of the force, said Thursday it would make only a token contribution, although it was willing to participate in a UN peacekeeping operation to be deployed later in East Timor.

The Security Council agreed that the multinational force — which is being paid for by contributing countries, not the world organization — should be replaced as soon as possible by a UN peacekeeping operation.

The Malaysian foreign minister, Syed Hamid Albar, said that ASEAN nations, not Australia, should lead the Timor force.

Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad earlier signaled Kuala Lumpur's objection to Australian leadership. "It is clear that other countries, especially Australia, are keen to send their troops to East Timor," he said. "It's their habit. They are happy for a chance to pressure their neighbor, to run down the neighbor."

The Australian defense minister, John Moore, said that Jakarta's decision Thursday to renounce a bilateral security pact with Australia meant that some elements of the Indonesian Army in East Timor would "probably not be very cooperative" when the first members of the multinational force land.

The Australian Defense Force chief, Admiral Chris Barrie, warned Thursday in Darwin, where the multinational force is assembling, that the UN mission to restore order would be difficult and that its troops would have to take a firm stance if the Indonesian Army, including its covert special forces units that have reportedly been directing the militias, failed to cooperate.

"If military operations do not turn out to the best advantage and we have to do some of the more serious things that are required, I think there is going to be a risk of casualties," the admiral said.

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