Transcript Australia as a Global Citizen

Australia as a Global Citizen
Case Study: East Timor
INTERFET Sept 1999-Feb 2001
Syllabus Focus Question
• Outline Key Developments in Australia’s
role within the UN in the post War period?
• Explain the purpose of Australia’s Regional
Agreements?
• Assess an Achievement of Australia in its
role within the UN ( Peacekeeping in East
Timor )
Participation in
UNESCO
ILO
FAO
WHO
Founding
Member
Evatt first
President of
General
Assembly
Member of the
General Assembly
since 1945
Role in
the UN
The Mission pursues
Australia’s interests in the
UN through advocacy of
our views and promotion of
our interests by negotiating
with other member states to
advance Australia’s foreign
policy objectives
Representation
on UN bodies
Permanent
Missions in
New York and
Geneva
Financial
Contributor13T
H largest with
1.7% of total
Military
Contributor
to
Peacekeeping
force eg
INTERFET
GLOBAL CITIZEN
• In the years following World War 2 Australia, as a
prosperous nation, was keen to take on the responsibilities
of “global citizen”, to support the new body of the UN and
to assist other nations less fortunate through humanitarian
aid.
• Australia since Federation had been slow to adopt an
international role and spent most of the 20th century
following the lead of either Britain or America
• Australia’s greatest challenge now is to exercise leadership
within the Region of Asia Pacific, through its role in the
UN, and support and leadership of peacekeeping forces.
East Timor and Australia’s Security
Minister for Defence
Hon John Moore
• “The deployment of Australian troops to East Timor
meets the test of Australia’s national interests. We have a
vital strategic interest in promoting peace and stability in
East Timor. Without that peace and stability we cannot
be confident of our own security. S o ,although there is
an urgent humanitarian task in East Timor, our
leadership of the International Force East Timor
(INTERFET) is not only about being a good
international citizen, it is equally about promoting
regional peace, security and Australia’s national
interests.”
United Nations Building in Dili
Vested Interests
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhaBSPGBXco&feature=related
•
•
•
•
•
•
16th Century, Portugual colonized Timor.
1859, Dutch invaded claiming the Western lands.
1942, Imperial Japan invaded - 100,000 to 250,000 people lost their lives.
1975, East Timor became independent of Portugal, and incorporated into Indonesia
through invasion( Australia sanctioned the invasion for 50% share of Timor oil)
BALIBO 5
1975 - 1999, Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor (FRETELIN)
kept up its struggle in the jungle and mountains during the 24 years of Indonesian
military occupation.
12 November 1991 'Dili Massacre' in which protesting East Timorese students
were shot, gaining international attention for their fight for independence from
Indonesia.
• 30 August 1999, People voted to become independent from
Indonesia. Sparked mass outbreaks of violence from antiindependence militias.( encouraged and financed by
Indonesia) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvjlXOcY5lg
•
•
•
•
20 September 1999, UN backed INTERFET coalition forces lead by
Australia, began deploying to East Timor on 'Operation Warden' to protect citizens
from militia raids.
20 May 2002, International recognition of independence from Indonesia.
27 September 2002, East Timor joins the United Nations.
7 July 2005, Agreement reached between East Timor and Australia over billion
dollar oil and gas mining rights in the Timor Sea.
Nicholson on East Timor
Alkatiri, Gusmao, Jose Ramos Horta
Jose Ramos
Horta elected as
PM IN 2007 but
attempted
assassination in
2007 Returned
in 2008
Gusmao, President
Alkatiri, first
Prime Minister of
the newly independent
East Timor in 2006
from 2002-2007 leader
of the Fretlin Party
Major Peter Cosgrove- Leader of the
Interfet Forces comprising over 22 countries
INTERFET ROLE
• Prevent the recurrence of violence on the
scale seen previously
• To protect and support UNAMET and any
other UN entities in their work of building
political reconciliation
• Facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid by
protecting the agencies involved in that
delivery
Cosgrove on the Role of
INTERFET
• “When we got here we had to seize the capital city of Dili and branch
out from there. And what we needed to do was to patrol the streets and
to make sure that violent armed people weren’t allowed to roam the
streets picking on innocent civilians – men, women and children – and
hurting them. Easy to say, but difficult to do because you had to first
pick out who were the adversaries and who were the innocents, but the
soldiers proved to be very good at that and very quickly the militias,
that’s what we call the adversary, learned that it was pointless to
continue to try to perform their bullying acts and either laid down their
weapons or left East Timor.
• Today the vast majority of East Timorese can get about their lives
rehabilitating their homes, sending their kids back to school, planting
their crops, getting medical treatment and generally trying to rebuild
after great devastation. They’ll bounce back. They need help, but
they’ll bounce back”
Rules of engagement for
Peacekeeping troops are that they
cannot open fire unless fired
upon first, and even then with
minimal force
Engagement
•
•
•
•
•
“We saw a couple of groups, and there were occasional shots coming in at us
from several different places.
I requested permission to engage, got it, and aimed at a bloke with an AK47
rifle I could see about 1500 metres away. I tried to take wind and distance and
everything into account, but the shot fell about a metre short. The unfriendlies
quickly disappeared.
How did I feel? I remember thinking ‘What if I get him?’ But also ‘What if I
miss?’ I have to say that I’m disappointed to have missed him. There’s been all
the training, all the preparation, all the frustration of having got here too late
to save some of the killing and the destruction, and there’s also the feeling that
it would have ‘closed the circle’, been the logical completion of what we have
been prepared for.
We have been shown to be well-trained, well-armed and disciplined. I think we
have really made a difference to the locals, inspired them with confidence, and
have shared a real affection and like. I feel very proud of the Australian effort
here.”
Interview with a member of B Company 3 RAR in East Timor, February 2000
Australia’s Role in East Timor
• In an interview on ABC Radio on 18 September, General
John Sanderson (United Nations Force Commander in
Cambodia, 1991-1993) said
• “He knows that the underlying principle of these
operation is the principle of minimum necessary force. In
other words, use whatever force is necessary, but ...
minimise it. The objective is to establish the rule of law In
East Timor.”
Civil-Military Actors
UN
Mission
(DPKO)
Foreign &
Local
Military
Donors &
Embassies
UN
Agencies
NGOs
Local
Population
Host
Govt
Media
Int Orgs
Religious
Groups
Therefore…
… the military cannot
work in isolation!
Police
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfPhGORil
ks
Competing Interests!
Cooperation or Chaos?
Local resentment
• Australians accused of inciting East Timor violence
•
By Anne Barker
•
•
•
•
•
Violent gangs in East Timor have begun turning their anger towards Australians in Dili.
One Timorese newspaper has accused Australia of inciting some of the unrest.
Gang warfare has become an almost daily scene on Dili's streets.
At least six people have been killed in various clashes since last weekend.
Two nights ago armed youths hurled rocks at the residential compound of Australian embassy staff.
No one was hurt in the incident.
But the commander of Australian soldiers in Dili, Brigadier Mal Rerden, says says rock throwing is
common around Dili, and there is no reason to believe gangs are specifically targeting Australians.
But local newspapers today blamed Australian soldiers for the two latest deaths - accusing them of
killing two men found on a beach.
The head of East Timor's armed forces has also accused Australia of taking sides in the country's
crisis.
Brigadier Rerden has denied the claims, saying his soldiers are completely neutral and professional
in their duties.
•
•
•
•
The Peacekeeping ‘Baker’s
Dozen’
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Legitimate intervention
Sustained international commitment
Achievable political objectives & exit strategy
Host-country support
Feasible & achievable mandate
Thorough & timely preparation & planning
Restoration & maintenance of a secure environment
Effective governance
Capable leadership & effective partnership
Sustainable economic & social development
Implementing human rights& addressing the past
Managing displaced people
Effective emergency relief
Source: Michael G. Smith Peacekeeping in East Timor: The Path to
Independence
Winning Hearts and Minds?
Rebuilding community infrastructure like
schools, distributing food supplies and
assisting and protecting Red Cross personnel
are all performed by Peacekeeping troops
Assisting Red Cross
Post INTERFET
• Australia led the multinational INTERFET force
which restored security in East Timor following
the 1999 post-ballot violence, and played a leading
role in UNMISET. Australia leads the
International Stabilisation Force (ISF) which
deployed to East Timor at the request of the East
Timorese leadership to help restore stability
following the violence of April/May 2006. The
ISF remains in East Timor in support of UNMIT,
with the full support of the East Timorese
Government and United Nations.
Impact
• “The success of this deployment in
pacifying the territory led to the departure of Indonesian
forces from East Timor and the formal revoking of
Indonesia's
sovereign claim to the territory. It also signaled a break
with past Australian diplomatic orthodoxy towards
Indonesia and
the declining influence of the Jakarta lobby on
Australian public policy” Scot Burchill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhqeoXSjJso&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT6xiZ9vq0w&feature=related
Alexander Downer
• “Let me begin by saying that Australians can be proud of
the role we have taken in relation to East Timor.
• Firstly, we helped to initiate the process that allowed the
East Timorese people to decide their own destiny.
• Secondly, Australia worked to assist the effective
implementation of the Tripartite Agreement of May 1999
between Indonesia, Portugal and the United Nations on
the future of the territory.
• Thirdly, we pressed Indonesia to halt the violence that so
tragically erupted in the territory, and when it was clear
that the Indonesian security forces were unable to do so,
Australia organised the INTERFET multinational force.
• Finally, under the mandate of the United Nations, we have
led INTERFET, and helped with the associated
humanitarian relief operations, with great effectiveness
and unquestionable integrity”
October 2007
• Australia still has approximately 850 defence
force personal and 50 Australian federal police in
East Timor, as part of the International
Stabilisation Force, helping to maintain security
following the violence in April 2006.
• The Australian government will increase aid to
East Timor with a $214 million package aimed at
improving economic development, education and
basic services with a particular focus on rural
areas in the coming years. ( Australia derives
approximately 10-15 billion dollars from East
Timor oil)
Vested Interests
Peacekeeper or Petroleum predator
• Australia began negotiating on oil issues with the Suharto
Regime in Indonesia in 1970 ( Indonesia’s takeover of East
Timor . Sanctioned by Australia took place in 1975)
• Defining the maritime boundaries became a contentious
issue for a decade
• With East Timor Independence a Treaty was signed on
February 2007 defining maritime boundaries. Australia
had initially argued for 80%, although International law
suggested that East Timor was entitled to 100%. Both
countries jointly share the revenues from production.
• There has been much International criticism of Australias
policy.
Meaning???
Australia bids for Security
Council Seat. 2008
• Kevin Rudd has announced Australia is bidding for one of
two available seats on the UN Security Council for a two
year period commencing in 2013. The Prime Minister
made the announcement after a two-hour meeting with UN
General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon in New York overnight.
Rudd told reporters that to be an effective member of the
UN, Australia also needed to be an effective member of the
Security Council. He has also pledged to help the joint
UN/AU mission in Darfur with nine military officers and
$5 million in aid.
Robert Hill Ambassador to
the UN
• “Australia's bid for a Security Council seat
was announced by Kevin Rudd in March. It
is the centre piece of the Prime Minister's
foreign policy pledges to re-engage with the
UN after a decade of Howard government
neglect - if not outright hostility - towards
the multilateral global institution, and to
play a more active role as a middle power.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_xKJdLMIIs
Kevin Rudd 2007
• "We should not fulfil our citizenship of the world
by sending just arms to fight, but rather sending
aid to foster growth and development, and extend
the hand of friendship. We should be a more
proactive supporter of debt relief and coupling
aid funds with social, economic and institutional
reforms. We should also be looking at the
underlying causes of poverty.“
To what extent does the graph
support Rudd’s statement?
WIK LEGISLATION 1999
•
•
•
Sydney Morning Herald
Australia faces UN race inquiry over Wik laws
August 18th, 1999
•
•
By LAUREN MARTIN
Australia's race record could come before the United Nations General Assembly by the end of the
year, after a Geneva committee yesterday rejected the Government's defense of its Wik native title
laws.
The UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) vowed to continue its
"early warning" watch on Australia's treatment of indigenous peoples, despite the Government's
testimony that the Wik laws were not discriminatory.
The Wik changes "risked creating an acute impairment" of indigenous land rights, the committee
said.
•
•
•
After Australia was made the first Western nation to be called before the
committee to explain its race policies - joining nations such as Algeria, Bosnia, Burundi,
Russia, Rwanda and Yugoslavia - the Government said it was not getting an adequate hearing
WOOMERA DETENTION CENTRE
2002
UN report condemns
"inhuman" Australian
detention of refugees
Australia has angrily rejected as biased and flawed a UN report that
condemned its detention of asylum seekers in tightly guarded camps as
"offensive to human dignity".
A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE
• Australia has in the past received strong
criticism from the UN on human rights
issues (treatment of Aborigines )
• Read the Courier Mail article and make
notes on the positive and negative aspects of
Australia’s 4th ranking.
• READ THE REPORT CARD. Do you
agree or disagree??????????
Assess- measure the extent,
quality, significance of
• In 4-500 words assess the
achievement of Australia’s
peacekeeping forces in East
Timor