UN split on Digger-led Timor force
AUSTRALIA'S bid to stay in command of military security in East Timor has sparked a last-minute showdown at the UN, where planning for a new peacekeeping mission has reached its final stages.
Brazil, Portugal and East Timor itself are among a number of countries that want Australia's forces to step aside in favour of aUN "blue-helmet" military deployment. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is also insisting on a blue rather than "green-helmet" force.
But the US and Japan - both members of the Security Council, which will make the final decision by this weekend - are backing Australia.
The divisions were laid bare when Australian ambassador Robert Hill told the council that Diggers were best suited to provide the rapid deployment capability necessary to secure the new peacekeeping mission and should be allowed to do so independently of the UN. He said Australia had a "vital interest in ensuring that East Timor develops as a stable democracy".
But Malaysia, New Zealand and The Philippines - all participants in the Australian-led stabilisation force that has maintained security in East Timor since May - were among those wanting UN peacekeepers to take over.
Japanese ambassador Kenzo Oshima, who is drafting the Security Council resolution, said there was broad agreement on most aspects of the new UN mission but not on the military component.
He said Japan believed the best option was to "utilise to the fullest extent possible" the Australian-led international security forces already in place in East Timor.
The standoff has spilled into the discussions of the Japan-chaired Core Group of nations (Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, Portugal and Britain) where the detail of the Security Council resolution is being thrashed out. Mr Hill declined to be interviewed yesterday on the progress of those talks, saying only that Australia was "some way from bridging the gap" on the issue of the military deployment.
He told the Security Council Australia's troops had several advantages over a blue-helmet operation, including flexibility and air mobility that could, at short notice, be bolstered to meet unexpected circumstances.
The Diggers also had experience in the environment and proven command and control capability.
Mr Hill said Australia would seek regional participation in such a force in consultation with the East Timorese Government, as well as provide "a significant contribution" to the proposed UN police force.
But Brazilian ambassador Piragibe Tarrago said he was concerned at a growing tendency to transfer UN and Security Council responsibilities to individual countries. He said this implied UN support for "trusteeship", which could damage its reputation for neutrality and impartial provision of assistance.
Mr Tarrago said it was also critical for UN credibility that the new mission in East Timor have the full agreement of the local authorities, who want a blue-helmet deployment.
Mr Annan has recommended the Security Council endorse a UN mission of 2000 police and military personnel to oversee the 2007 elections and to maintain a "secure and stable environment" in East Timor.
El ex primer ministro de Timor Oriental, Mari Alkatiri, quien fuera forzado a renunciar debido a los desórdenes públicos desatados en meses pasados en este nuevo país, ha acusado a elementos extranjeros de haber contactado militares timoreses para organizar un golpe de estado contra él. Los individuos, cuya nacionalidad no se ha aclarado, eran probablemente australianos o estadounidenses.

Mari Alkatiri también acusó al primer ministro australiano, John Howard, de presionarlo para que renunciara. Según Alkatiri, a él lo querían sacar porque el era muy “independiente” y eso amenazaba los intereses que Australia tiene por los yacimientos de gas del Mar de Timor.

Para completar de enturbiar la misión australiana, el miércoles (30), el mayor del ejército timorés Alfredo Reinado, quien se encontraba en la cárcel por ser el organizador de los desórdenes y las protestas que causaron decenas de muertes y llevaron a la renuncia de Alkatiri, escapó de la prisión con mas de 50 prisioneros y huyó con estos hacia la región montañosa y selvática de la isla.

Después del incidente de la fuga, el actual primer ministro José Ramos Horta declaró que el cuidado de los prisioneros estaba a cargo de las fuerzas australianas, descargando indirectamente la responsabilidad de la fuga sobre este contingente.

Por otro lado, Australia se ha visto envuelta en una disputa con las Naciones Unidas sobre el comando de la misión de ese organismo internacional en esta antigua colonia portuguesa.

Brasil, Portugal y Timor Oriental quieren que Australia retire sus tropas del país y que dé campo para que una misión de Cascos Azules se despliegue y asuma el control de la seguridad de la isla. Pero Japón y Estados Unidos prefieren que Australia esté al frente de la misión.