Sir, - Your Editorial of September 1st, "East Timor Votes", concerning the historic exercise in democracy undertaken by the people of East Timor, carries a warning that the international community and the Irish Government would do well to heed.
The turn-out of almost 100 per cent makes the strongest of statements to the militias and the Indonesian government and it is incumbent on the international community to ensure that the people's wishes are respected.
As you rightly point out, the period during which the result is at most risk of being subverted is the vacuum between voting and the hoped-for endorsement of the result by the Indonesian consultative assembly.
The lack of an international peace enforcement agency ready and able to move in quickly means that if the Indonesian Government or the various militias do not accept the wishes of the people of East Timor, a ludicrous situation could arise whereby the international community is able to oversee a fair referendum but unable to make sure that its result is honoured. For some years now I have been campaigning for the establishment of a force that would be ready at a moment's notice to move into potential flashpoints to protect civilian populations from potential oppressors. How many lives might have been spared in Rwanda if such a force had existed? Or Bosnia, or Kosovo?
The UN as it is presently organised is too slow to respond efficiently. When a situation such as this arises there is no time for member states to seek support from their governments, for meetings and consultations. By the time that process is complete the damage is usually done.
Yet again I call on the Irish Government to promote the idea of an international peace force to be kept in readiness at all times to protect innocent civilians and fragile democracies around the world. - Yours, etc.,
John O'Shea, GOAL, Northumberland Avenue, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.