Cohen Tells Indonesian Leaders to Disarm, Disband Militias
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 18, 2000 -- During a long day of
meetings, Defense Secretary William S. Cohen told Indonesian
leaders Sept. 18 that they must disband and disarm the "killer
militias" on the island of Timor.
Cohen met separately with President Abdurrahman Wahid, Vice
President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Coordinating Minister for
Political, Social and Security Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
and Defense Minister Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin.
"At every meeting, I made the same points," Cohen said during a
news conference. "The United States strongly supports
Indonesia's historic transition to a democracy, but that
transition must include a clear commitment to the rule of law
and an end of violence in East and West Timor."
On Sept. 6, militias operating out of refugee camps in West
Timor targeted the office of the U.N. High Commission on
Refugees. A militia-led mob descended on the offices and
murdered three aid workers including an American.
"The United States and the entire international community have
condemned this brutal attack by militia killers and have called
on Indonesian authorities to take immediate action to deal with
the Timor crisis," Cohen said.
The Indonesian government had guaranteed the U.N. workers'
safety, but police and soldiers left the area as the militias
approached. More relief workers would have been killed had local
citizens not hidden them. Since the killings, there has been
little movement on finding the perpetrators, the official said.
Cohen delivered a message from President Clinton to Wahid on the
killings. "They understand that they will be held accountable,"
Cohen said in a short interview with the traveling press before
the news conference. "(The Indonesian leaders) understand that,
and they indicated that they need to take appropriate measures."
He stressed the United States wants to see a unified, democratic
and prosperous Indonesia. He said all countries in the region
and in the West "want Indonesia to succeed."
He said he's seen stories that the United States, United Nations
and others want to see Indonesia's problems fester and lead to a
breakup.
"That is completely false," he said. "It is complete nonsense."
Cohen said the United States supports Indonesia's territorial
integrity. "We believe it is important that it remain united,"
he said. "We want to see it prosper, but it can only prosper if
the international community sees that the leadership of this
country is committed to the rule of law, is committed to reforms
and takes action and not words."
Before the meetings, U.S. officials said they did not believe
Indonesian leaders understood how serious the situation on Timor
is regarded by the international community. After the meetings,
Cohen said he had a commitment from Wahid and the military
leadership that Indonesia "is prepared to move quickly and
decisively to deal with the West Timor crisis."
Cohen said Jakarta's failure to address these problems would
affect its relations with the international community and would
jeopardize continued economic assistance to Indonesia.
Cohen said Indonesia must make credible progress toward solving
the refugee crisis on Timor and allowing the rule of law to
work.
"Indonesia faces a momentous decision: Whether to build a fair,
just society under the rule of law or to allow unpunished
violence explode the dream of democracy, stability, unity and
prosperity," he said.
Related Sites of Interest:
 | Robert Gelbart (from left), U.S. ambassador to
Indonesia, and Defense Secretary William S. Cohen speak with
Indonesian Vice President Megawati Sukarnoputri in Jakarta. Cohen
told Indonesian leaders Sept. 18 that they must disarm and
disband the militias terrorizing the island of Timor. Photo by
Jim Garamone.
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