Written Answers. - East Timor Conflict.
Michael Bell
Ceist:
42
Mr. Bell
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
his views on the proposal by Trócaire and other international relief agencies that an independent panel of experts and a war crimes tribunal should be established through the invocation of the genocide convention to investigate crimes against humanity with respect to East Timor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20857/99]
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:
61
Mr. Broughan
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if Ireland will exert all possible pressure to ensure that the UNHCR is given full control over the safe and voluntary return of refugees to East Timor; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20859/99]
Michael Ferris
Ceist:
80
Mr. Ferris
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the funds, if any, Ireland has provided to date for humanitarian relief in East Timor; the latest information available on the number of persons still displaced; the additional steps, if any, planned to alleviate suffering; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20856/99]
Eamon Gilmore
Ceist:
81
Mr. Gilmore
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
the plans, if any, Ireland has to give formal recognition to East Timor as an independent state in view of the outcome of the referendum; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[20863/99]
Ivan Yates
Ceist:
91
Mr. Yates
asked the
Minister for Foreign Affairs
if he will make a statement on the current situation in East Timor.
[20958/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 61, 80, 81 and 91 together.
Since I last described the situation in East Timor to the House on 29 September there have been a number of important developments. In this regard, I welcome in particular the completion of the Indonesian military withdrawal from East Timor over the weekend.
On 4 October, I met the East Timorese leaders, Mr. Xanana Gusmao and Mr. Ramos Horta in Dublin when they expressed their appreciation for the support that Ireland had already given. They briefed the Taoiseach and myself on the challenges facing the people of East Timor, and sought Ireland's continuing support. I assured them of this.
The overall situation in East Timor is still a cause for great concern because of the humanitarian catastrophe and the wholesale and wanton destruction there. Nonetheless, considerable progress has been achieved, largely due to the pressure which the international community has maintained on the Indonesian authorities, and to the work of the INTERFET in restoring security and of the international humanitarian agencies in providing emergency assistance.
The multinational force – INTERFET – has continued to expand its deployment in East Timor, and with more than 8,000 troops now deployed has almost reached its full strength. The Irish contingent has been deployed in East Timor.
Although INTERFET has improved security in many areas, this is not the case throughout East Timor. There have been a number of attacks on INTERFET by the pro-Indonesian militias, particularly in those areas bordering West Timor. I condemn these attacks and call on the Indonesian authorities to co-operate fully in bringing them to an end.
Improved security conditions have made it possible for a number of internally displaced persons to return home. However, many are still unable to do so. In addition to the internally displaced persons, a further cause of concern is the situation of refugees and deportees in West Timor and other parts of Indonesia. The Indonesian authorities are now granting access by the international agencies to the camps in West Timor. A programme of voluntary return, by air and sea, has also started. Bearing in mind that the overall number involved could be between 150,000 and 200,000, further transport and secure land routes have to be made available. The full implementation of this programme could last for several weeks, even in satisfactory conditions. Careful international monitoring will be required.
Improved security conditions have also allowed the humanitarian relief agencies to expand their delivery of aid. This aid includes seeds which have to be sown before the start of the rainy season, which is due in the middle of November, if large parts of the population are to be minimally self-sufficient in terms of food next year. Shelter must be provided as a matter of urgency, and the essential infrastructure rebuilt. Parallel with this is the need to provide urgent medical and other services to save the highly vulnerable population and to prevent the spread of contagious disease.
As the Deputies will be aware the Government has approved a grant package of £1 million pounds to help meet the immediate humanitarian needs of the Timorese people. I want to reiterate the Government's commitment to support the people of East Timor in their efforts to rebuild their lives and communities and, over the coming months and years, to make the transition to independence.
An assessment team from the Department of Foreign Affairs will visit the region in the next few days with a view to making recommendations for further support and the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, intends to visit shortly.
A further urgent priority is the investigation of violations of human rights and crimes against humanity, as demanded by Security Council Resolution 1264. The House will be aware that the Special Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, chaired by Ireland from 23 to 27 September, adopted a resolution calling for the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry. At the request of the UN Secretary General, the UN High Commissioner has just appointed the members of the Commission of Inquiry. This commission is starting work immediately so that it can report to the Secretary General by the end of December. Information for use by the Commission of Inquiry is being compiled by a number of parties, including the UN civilian mission in East Timor – UNAMET. INTERFET is also assisting in this task, by identifying and helping to preserve sites of reported atrocities.
I discussed the investigation and prosecution of human rights violations at length with Mr. Gusmao and Mr. Horta in Dublin. I informed them of consultations which we were conducting in respect of the Genocide Convention and sought their views on how best the international community might now proceed. They stressed the immediate need to follow up the establishment of the Commission of Inquiry with firm action to ensure that the perpetrators of crimes against humanity be brought to justice on the basis of existing UN decisions. This of course does not preclude further consideration of the Genocide Convention at a later stage.
With regard to the next steps towards independence, the Indonesian Parliament ratified, on 20 October, the result of the 30 August referendum. I welcome this decision, which has enabled Phase 3 of the 5 May Agreement process to commence.
The UN Secretary General submitted a report on 4 October to the Security Council setting out his detailed plans for Phase 3. These envisage the establishment of a UN interim administration – to be known as UNTAET, the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor – which will have a comprehensive mandate to restore the functioning of the country, to establish a legal and security system and to prepare the people of East Timor to assume these functions and responsibilities themselves. Discussions are now taking place at the UN on the organisation of the international contribution to this task. It will be substantial and at least of two to three years' duration. Considerable resources will be needed. The UNAMET mission will provide the core of the larger and longer-term UNTAET mission. INTERFET will be replaced by a further UN military peacekeeping force. Security will also be provided by an armed police component. The Security Council adopted Resolution 1272 on 25 October which now provides the legal basis for the implementation of the Phase 3 plans.
As regards the recognition of East Timor, the EU announced on 13 September that its member states looked forward to recognising East Timor as soon as the process towards independence had been completed. The Government hopes that the installation of the UN interim administration will now proceed smoothly and that its work will pave the way for recognition of East Timor as an independent state at the earliest possible date.
