UN gives green light for use of force

By Vernon Small

deputy political editor

New Zealand troops could be on the ground in East Timor by the weekend facing what Prime Minister Jenny Shipley calls "potentially the most dangerous regional conflict in a generation."

A special cabinet meeting today will consider New Zealand's contribution to an Australian-led peacemaking force, and is expected to cut the 14-day standby period to a few days.

The United Nations Security Council last night authorised the establishment of a multinational force to restore peace and security in East Timor. In a unanimous vote, members endorsed "all necessary measures" to halt the killing and destruction and demanded that those responsible be brought to justice.

A former New Zealand ambassador to the UN, Terence O'Brien, said the wording cleared the way for force to be used against militias and raised the possibility of a war crimes tribunal.

Such wording had been used to endorse the strongest military action against Iraq in the 1991 Gulf War and to hunt down war criminals in Bosnia.

He warned, however, that New Zealand had to be careful not to become embroiled in a European-led "witchhunt" and had a critical interest in encouraging maximum Asian involvement in resolving the crisis.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister said Mrs Shipley welcomed the Security Council resolution, which Britain is understood to have played a big hand in drafting.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard said last night that the aim was to have a peacekeeping force in East Timor as soon as possible, although the exact timing had not been decided.

Australia, which UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has asked to lead the force, is expected to contribute at least half of the 8000 members.

Defence Minister Max Bradford said New Zealand and Australia would be able to put troops on the ground by the weekend, if necessary.

US President Bill Clinton, at a press conference in Christchurch, said he would like to see the first contingent in East Timor in the next couple of days.

Foreign Affairs Minister Don McKinnon said "a reasonable number of troops" could be in the province soon.

"They won't be covering a big area but they will be on the ground and they will be significant. It's going to take a little bit of time before you actually have a UN force on the whole of [East Timor]."

Dili airport and other key sites would be secured first.

Emergency food drops by Australian aircraft are expected to start tomorrow.

In a rare move, Parliament will be recalled early for a special four-hour debate tomorrow, starting at 2 pm, on New Zealand's role in Timor. Defence officials will brief Opposition parties.

Mrs Shipley said the mission would be risky and she would not put lives at risk without a full debate in the House.

"I also want the troops to know that they have multiparty support."

Four members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines - have agreed to join the Australian-led force. Fiji, South Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Britain, Canada, France, and Argentina have also agreed to contribute troops.

The New Zealand contingent could number up to 500.