| Submit your comments on this article |
| U.N. Wants to Pull Troops From East Timor |
| 2004-02-19 |
| Secretary-General Kofi Annan called Wednesday for the withdrawal of almost all U.N. peacekeepers in East Timor while bolstering efforts to help the newly independent country consolidate its political institutions. In a report to the Security Council, Annan proposed a one year extension of the U.N. mission to Asia’s poorest country, which gained independence in 2002 following four centuries of Portuguese rule and 24 years of Indonesian occupation. Annan said that while East Timor has made considerable progress in building the structures of a nation, such as a judicial system and police force, it still needs help as the U.N. mandate prepares to run out on May 20. "I am convinced that a comparatively modest additional effort can make a crucial difference," Annan wrote in the report. When the people of East Timor voted for independence in 1999, the Indonesian military and its proxy militias responded by laying waste to the former province, killing 1,500 Timorese and forcing 300,000 from their homes. The United Nations Sad thing is, left-liberals count East Timor as a U.N. "success". About 3,000 international peacekeepers are now stationed in East Timor to support its fledgling army, along with about 500 U.N. police officers. Another 1,000 U.N. staffers provide technical assistance. Annan said in the report he wants to cut that down to 310 military personnel, 58 civilian advisers, 157 police advisers and 42 military liaison officers. Wonder if the Indonesians have cut the number of troops in West Timor? |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Ten minutes afterthe Udies pull out the stomach acid levels in Canberra will hit maximum. |
| Posted by: Cheddarhead 2004-2-19 6:14:22 AM |