Robson under fire for Timor gaffe

By JOHN ARMSTRONG political editor

Gaffe-prone Matt Robson has embarrassed his Coalition colleagues again, this time accusing the Indonesian Army of slaying a Nepalese soldier in East Timor without providing evidence to back it up.

The blunder was made in Parliament during a brief debate on the shooting of the peacekeeper, who died during a battle with armed militiamen on Thursday.

"Behind this act is the Indonesian Army," the Associate Foreign Affairs Minister told astonished MPs.

"And behind that Army is decades of support for a policy of training and equipping an Army whose major purpose is to oppress peoples, in this case the peoples of East Timor.

"This latest blow is a calculated blow."

Mr Robson's remarks are a big leap on those made by Foreign Minister Phil Goff, who asked Indonesia to take "urgent and effective" measures to stamp out militias following the death of Private Leonard Manning, the New Zealand soldier killed last month.

MPs canvassed by the Weekend Herald thought that Mr Robson had been stupid given the sensitivity of the Foreign Affairs portfolio and relations with Indonesia.

However, Mr Robson last night stood by his statement, which he admitted was strong. He said it was based on circumstantial evidence of Indonesian Army complicity with militias in West Timor, which was relayed in official cables and documents he had seen.

"Unless the truth starts to be told, then there won't be movement," he said, referring to global efforts to pressure Jakarta to control its military.

Mr Goff is overseas, while Defence Minister Mark Burton refused to comment on Mr Robson's outburst.

But Mr Burton's office said the identity of the gunmen who killed the peacekeeper had not been established.

Prime Minister Helen Clark said last night that New Zealand was not aware of any evidence that the Indonesian military was involved. But the killing reinforced the need for Indonesia to take early action to disarm and disband the militias operating out of West Timor.

Four other Nepalese peacekeepers were wounded in the shooting. Their company is attached to the New Zealand battalion and effectively under NZ command.

Kiwi troops were not involved in the incident but have since searched the area, which is northeast of Suai.

Mr Robson's comments provoked uproar in Parliament, with Act leader Richard Prebble warning that he was endangering other soldiers in East Timor.

"[Mr Robson is] in effect saying the Indonesian Army ... has declared war on soldiers working alongside some New Zealand soldiers. And he wants us to commit ourselves and our soldiers to taking on the Indonesian Army."