Statement by
Ambassador Rezlan Ishar Jenie
Permanent Representative of
the Republic of Indonesia to the United Nations
before the Security Council
on the agenda item
“The Situation in Timor Leste”

New York, 15 November 2004

Mr. President,

I would like to begin by congratulating you on your assumption of the Presidency of the Council for the month of November 2004. My delegation is always grateful for the opportunity of participation whenever the Security Council deliberates on the agenda item on Timor-Leste, which is a neighbor and a close friend of Indonesia.

My delegation would also like to thank the Secretary-General for his report contained in document S/2004/888, in connection with progress towards the achievement of key tasks by the United Nations Mission of Support in East Timor (UNMISET), under Security Council resolution 1543 (2004) of 14 May 2004.

As the work of UNMISET begins to wind down, my delegation would like to recall its consistent support for the mandate by which it was set up, and for its work ever since. Indonesia has always maintained as a fundamental principle that UNMISET provide the necessary assistance for Timor-Leste to meet the goals of political stability, security and self-reliance in the shortest possible time.

In this connection, we are pleased that the report observes that Timor-Leste is now generally peaceful and stable, with the Government making considerable efforts to address pressing internal issues confronting the country, including the veterans issue and violence between martial arts groups. We are further pleased at the efforts by the Government of Timor Leste that have yielded positive results in various fields, including the quest for self-reliance.

Mr. President,

In the consolidation phase of UNMISET, which began last May, we see steps that have been taken, including the eight Working Groups set up by the Mission to address the key areas of concern that were highlighted by Member States here in the Council on 24 August. Properly implemented, we are certain that the Working Groups can help in the desired identification of activities necessary for a smooth transition from peacekeeping to institution-building and sustainable developmental assistance. This will further create a steady and conducive opportunity to end the mandate of UNMISET successfully within a secure time frame.

Similarly, we note that an integrated technical assessment mission from the United Nations visited Timor-Leste in early October, in accordance with resolution 1543 (2004), and returned with favourable reports of further progress in the development of key state institutions and security agencies, including the adoption of some important pieces of legislation.

It is significant to point out however, that the technical assessment team also reported that Timor-Leste has yet to reach the threshold of self-sufficiency. It noted that areas of public administration -- particularly the finance, banking and justice sectors -- remain weak and fragile. We hope that the United Nations and the international community will continue to stand by the Government of Timor-Leste, and, through appropriate developmental assistance mechanisms, support its dedicated efforts.
Mr. President,

As the members of the Security Council well appreciate, Indonesia places great value on its relationship with Timor-Leste. We note that the report of the Secretary-General observes that relations between both nations were further strengthened by the visit of Prime Minister Alkatiri to Jakarta on the occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of the new Indonesian President, Mr. Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on 20 October 2004.

With regard to the issue of land border demarcation, both nations have continued to hold consultations. It should be recalled that at the Bali meeting of our Foreign Ministers last June they did reach a Provisional Agreement to be submitted to their Heads of Government whereby 90% of the land border demarcation was agreed upon. I should like to add that there has also been steady progress at the working level to settle the remaining 10%, which consists of 9 unresolved segments. At the last meeting of the Technical Sub-Committee on Border Demarcation (TSC-BDR) in Yogyakarta on 29-30 October 2004, the two sides further concluded six of those segments, according to the record of discussion signed by both delegations, leading to a total conclusion of about 96% of the land border demarcation. They are scheduled to meet again, on 21-22 December 2004, to try to resolve the outstanding 4% (three unresolved segments). That meeting will also determine further work of densification of coordinates, and later on, schedule demarcation work.

Therefore, when perusing the Secretary-General’s report, one should realize that both Indonesia and Timor Leste understood that are indeed more field work to be done in order to arrive at the final agreement. In this context, Indonesia did not expect that the final agreement could have been concluded at the technical meeting in October and we believed that our partner, Timor Leste, did not expect that either.

In this regard, Indonesia would like to reiterate its position once again that in order to facilitate border management activities as soon as possible, Indonesia stands ready to sign a provisional agreement at any time, while continuing to seek agreement on the remaining issues in not-too-distant a future.

Let me conclude, Mr President, with two other matters that are of concern to Indonesia. Firstly, is the reference in the report to an Indonesian naval ship that entered Timor-Leste territorial waters on 19 September, in pursuit of a private tour boat. I would like to clarify this matter for the record. On that day, an Indonesian naval ship detected an unattended floating boat near the Indonesian maritime boundary with Timor Leste. She sailed towards the boat in order to ascertain the nature of its presence. However, after repeated request for contact, the boat while continue not to give any response, sped away at a high speed. During the event, the ship experienced a mechanical problem and was brought by the currents crossing the “territorial waters” of Timor Leste unintentionally. After a while, the mechanical problem was fixed, and the ship turned back. While fixing the problem, the ship tried to contact local authorities in order to avoid misunderstanding, but was unsuccessful.

The Government of Indonesia has been in contact with the Government of Timor Leste, and satisfactorily clarified this matter. It is important to point out that no hostile intention whatsoever, on the part of the naval ship, was evident. In order to avoid similar misunderstandings in the future, however, tourist boats, especially those unattended ones by divers, in the border areas, need to give clear signs on their activities.

The second point of concern is the statement that on 2 November, Indonesian military personnel crossed the Tactical Coordination Line (TCL) in the Cruz area in Oecussi. I would like to inform the Council that up till now, the Government of Indonesia has never received any communication or complaint on this issue either from the Government of Timor Leste or UNMISET. In order to dispel any wrong impressions, I will explain what actually happened on that day. As we all know, pending the land border agreement, both security personnel use a tactical coordination line (TCL) that was agreed upon by field officers. Under the TCL there are three zones, namely Zone 1 that is patrolled by Indonesia and Zone 3 by the Timor Leste. Both sides also agree that in Zone 2, no one is allowed to conduct patrols or any other activities.

On 2 November 2004, while patrolling in Zone 1, Indonesian security officers spotted three people from Timor Leste who were clearing and burning bushes in Zone 2. When the Indonesian side, still in Zone 1, walked towards them, they went away. The Indonesian security officers then continued their patrol in Zone 1. However, some time afterwards, those people who were burning bushes earlier, returned with a bigger group of about 30 people, and began to throw stones at the Indonesian security officers who were patrolling in Zone 1. In order to avoid unnecessary problems, the Indonesian security officers left their patrolling area, which actually was in Zone 1.

Given these facts, the portrayal of the incident by the Secretary General would have been different had clarification from all the parties been sought. As a result, the account in the report is capable of creating unnecessary negative perceptions towards Indonesia, which we regret. We believe that the UN should work to facilitate forward-looking relations between the two countries.

I thank you, Mr. President.