EU Foreign Ministers agreed last night to the suspension of all military co-operation with Indonesia and a four-month ban on the sale of arms to the regime. Ireland, supported by several others, attempted unsuccessfully to get an indefinite ban agreed. But France argued that an indefinite ban would only serve to excessively antagonise the military at a delicate time.
Diplomats said, however, that the ban could and would be renewed after four months if the Indonesian authorities did not co-operate fully with the international community. And ministers called on Jakarta to accept the dispatch of a special human rights mission to East Timor under the UN Human Rights Commissioner, Mrs Mary Robinson, to conduct an investigation into violations with the aim of making those responsible directly accountable.
The meeting heard an impassioned appeal from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, who is the EU's special representative on East Timor.
"Time is of the essence," Mr Andrews told his colleagues of the need to deploy peacekeeping troops as soon as possible. "The Union, if it is to maintain its credibility, must throw its full weight behind those in the UN Security Council who are seeking to bring this about."
But he urged "extreme caution" in their dealings with the Indonesians.
There was still no clear evidence that President B.J. Habibie had real control over the military in East Timor, he said, and warned "that it has become crystal clear that the aim of the military is nothing short of a scorched earth policy and the removal of all those who favour independence from East Timor".
Mr Andrews told ministers that Irish officers in Dili were reporting systematic attempts by anti-independence militias to depopulate the province of Erema, with up to 30,000 bussed out by militias.
Speaking to journalists later, Mr Andrews also warned that many would die unless humanitarian aid from the EU reached refugees as fast as peacekeeping troops. Asked whether Ireland would be contributing troops, Mr Andrews paid tribute to the two Irish officers still in the Dili UNAMET compound and said the Government would certainly be considering sending more.
