Scoop's special APEC/East Timor coverage is continuing... it has been an eventful 48 hours since the last Scoop Today
special bulletin...
INDONESIA FLEXIBLE ON PEACEKEEPING FORCE AS MILITARY FORCES BUILD
Indonesia Give UN Free Run On Peacekeeping Composition
- Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas has told the UN there are no conditions on the composition of a peacekeeping
force for East Timor. Previously Indonesia had indicated they wanted no US or Australian troops on their soil. The UN
meeting broke up around midday NZ Time. No statement has yet been issued.
Military Build Up In Darwin
- The Kiwi frigate Te Kaha has berthed in Darwin beside US military ships and the supply ship Endeavour is on the way
as troops go on standby and forces build for a quick deployment to East Timor. Meanwhile commentators are urging the
peacekeepers to hurry as atrocities are still being committed and refugees sheltering in the hills are running the risk
of starving.
APEC CLOSING: OFFICIAL STATEMENTS
- “We, the Economic Leaders of APEC, celebrate here in Auckland ten years of unprecedented cooperation in our region,
in pursuit of a vision of stability, security and prosperity for our peoples.” See... THE AUCKLAND CHALLENGE - LEADERS DECLARATION [1] in the Auckland wire. See also…. Comments on the Leaders Declaration [2] , APEC Leaders Boost Air Services Liberalisation [3] , APEC Leaders Encourage Women's Participation [4] , APEC Push For Elimination Of Food Export Subsidies [5] .
INDONESIA TO ADMIT PEACEKEEPERS - NEWSFLASH
- 1am approximately NZ time (Monday 13th September). CNN is quoting Kofi Annan saying Indonesia has agreed to accept
peace keepers. President B.J. Habibe is about to make an address to the nation. Scoop will bring more news as it comes
to hand....President Habibe has now delivered his address, first in Indonesian and then in English - he said he had
instructed Foreign Minister Ali Alatas to depart for New York to discuss arrangements for the peace-keeping contingent.
At the conclusion of his speech he said he would not take questions as his statement had been clear. The reaction has
been uniformly positive. Independence Leader Xanana Gusmao praised Dr Habibe for his courage. The Australian's say they
are very pleased and in the Dili compound in East Timor the refugees are describing their feeling as one of salvation. Meanwhile In Auckland - key discussions on how to bring peace to East Timor while avoiding an escalation of tensions and violence in
Indonesia is the challenge facing the international community gathered in Auckland today. See... Diplomacy Takes Over In Wake Of Habibie's Call [1] in the Headlines wire.
SCOOP WORLD EXCLUSIVE: Operation “Restore Order”
- Indonesia has been widely condemned over the past two weeks for its failure to keep order in East Timor. With calm
apparently restored inside the Indonesian territory, Scoop's Alastair Thompson today brings you the first glimpses of
the inside story... Indonesia's Triumph - Operation "Restore Order" [1] in the Headlines wire. See also background info from Scoop's archive on the leak of an Indonesian planning document [2] ".
Everybodies Talking About Timor
- including: US President Clinton: "The eyes of the world are on East Timor" [1] , Madeleine Albright [2] and Noam Chomsky [3] .
SCOOP IMAGES - GLIMPSES OF APEC
-The President And His Men - also Scoop Images: The President 's Men [1] and Scoop Images: The President of the USA In Auckland [2] - APEC Moves Into High Gear - More immigrant groups representing developing countries like India, with a strong
Kashmir contingent, are well organised and vocal in getting their message soliciting world recognition of the human
rights abuses they claim to suffer back in India. See... Protest Space Scarce As APEC Moves Into High Gear [3] and Scoop Images: More Images From APEC [4] .
NZ Welcomes Peacekeeper Decision – Special Parliament To Be Called
- Prime Minister Jenny Shipley said that all New Zealanders who have been appalled by the suffering of the East
Timorese people will welcome Indonesia's decision to allow United Nations peacekeeping forces into Timor. See. NZ Welcomes Decision To Admit Peacekeeper [1] in the Parliament wire.
More Comment From Scoop’s Wires On East Timor
- – The Alliance is welcoming the move for international intervention in East Timor and called it a triumph for the
pressure the international community have been able and willing to bring to bear on Indonesia. See. Action on East Timor crisis welcomed [1] . – Defence Minister Max Bradford has welcome the news that an international peacekeeping force has been invited
into Indonesia. See… Bradford Welcomes Indonesian decision [2] in the Parliament wire. Bradford has announced we will also be contributing non military vehicles to a UN mission. See… Non-Military Vehicles For East Timor [3] , also in the Parliament wire. – ACT has said the party support the recall of parliament to debate a New Zealand deployment. See… Act Supports Recall Of Parliament For Timor Debate [4] . – The Defence Force said they are already planning. See… NZDF Planning For UN Mission To Timor [5] in the Politics wire. – The East Timor Independence Committee has also welcomed Indonesia’s invitation. See… Peacekeeping force welcomed [6] in the General wire.
NEWS: SUNDAY: Indonesian Cabinet In Emergency Session As Attacks On Timor Safehaven Reported
- Attacks on a city 6 miles south of Dili have been reported by the UN spokesman David Wimhurst (in Darwin) as the
Indonesian Cabinet prepares for an emergency session on the East Timor Crisis in Jakarta. The Indonesian's have denied
the latest attack reports. The Cabinet including General Wiranto and President Habibe will discuss the crisis, and, most
probably, Gen. Wiranto's comments yesterday while in Dili that he was in favour of an "accelerated deployment" of
foreign peace keepers. A force of 600 Australians are apparently ready to go in Darwin with the US now offering
logistics support. 350 NZ soldiers are currently tied up in APEC security detail will be on 14 days notice from the end
of APEC on Monday. Meanwhile in Auckland Japan is now taking a lead role in the crisis. Scoop’s APEC correspondent
Selwyn Manning reports it is now…Decision Time For International Community On Timor [1] .
NEWS: SATURDAY: General Wiranto Indicates Peace Keepers May Be Welcome
- Commander of the Indonesian military and Defence Minister General Wiranto indicated Indonesia may be willing to allow
an international peace-keeping force into East Timor. Till now the Indonesian leadership has strongly rejected offers
from the international community of a peace-keeping troops. Meanwhile reports suggest calm may be returning to Dili and
that the violence in East Timor is passing. A UN team is currently in Dili - see... Reports Suggest Calm May Be Returning To Dili [1] . Earlier yesterday New Zealand Foreign Minister Don McKinnon said there was a growing belief that there will be a
peacekeeping force in East Timor within days as pressure mounts on Indonesia - see... Peacekeepers In East Timor Within Days? [2]
Free Trade Deal With Singapore
- Designed on the blueprint of CER, New Zealand and Singapore have sealed a free trade agreement. The two economies are
heralding the deal as “significant for both countries” and a leading example for other APEC countries to follow. There
are already indications that the example of the Singapore deal may be widened. Yesterday Mrs Shipley met with the
Chilean President in a bi-lateral meeting and agreed to commence a scoping study to evaluate whether a similar agreement
to that with Singapore could be reached with Chile. See... NZ Singapore Free Trade Deal A "Bogor Blueprint" [1] in the Headlines wire.
Progess On China’s Entry To WTO At Superpower Summit
- United States and China are moving closer to achieving an elusive trade deal and China’s entry into the World Trade
Organisation may be managed before the WTO talks scheduled for November. See Scoop’s Selwyn Manning’s report from the
post summit press conference... WTO and Taiwan Dominate Meeting of Presidents [1] in the Headlines wire.
Sensitive Issues Occupy Superpower Bilateral
- The Chinese and United States ministers have been working to fast-track improved relations between the two countries
parading a volley of statements designed to encourage their respective presidents to begin firm meaningful dialogue.
See... China Places Much Hope On US/Sino Bilaterals [1] in the Headlines wire. The leaders of the richest and most populous nations on the planet met yesterday at 5pm.