The decision by the Indonesian government to accept a United Nations force in East Timor is a breakthrough in the crisis, opening up the possibility of bringing relief to a sorely tried people. It can only be hoped that it has not come too late for too many, after the systematic effort last week by militias allied with the Indonesian military to subvert a decisive vote for independence. The UN force must be deployed as soon as possible to oversee the transition to self-rule.
Yesterday's decision is a victory for President Habibie over the military who refused to countenance UN intervention and for the democratic forces in Indonesia who have opposed the armed forces' hegemony over the profound process of change under way in that country. Above all it is a triumph for an outraged international public opinion, sickened by reports of the militias' rampage against a people left defenceless by the UN's failure to guarantee that the outcome of the vote would be respected. The public pressure mounted on governments the world over to intervene with the Indonesians has paid off in a dramatic proof that international protest makes a difference.
Anyone who doubts that had only to listen to the quickened pace and clipped tones in which President Clinton delivered his ultimatum to President Habibie over the weekend, from the APEC summit in New Zealand. From an initial position of reluctance over whether the United States ought to be involved, matched by a hostile Congress, his attitude developed extraordinarily rapidly. As a skilled politician he was able to read the unmistakable signs of outrage and protest animating international opinion - and to go along with it in spite of realpolitik objections from allies and sceptics.
All credit must go to the courageous UN officials whose refusal to abandon the refugees under their care delayed the decision taken by their superiors in New York to abandon their mission last week - and equally to the reporters who refused to accept the clear attempt to close off their role as the world's eyes and ears witnessing this drama. Tribute must also be paid to initiatives such as that taken by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mrs Mary Robinson, to indict those responsible for crimes against humanity. In Ireland non-governmental organisations urged the Government to invoke international legal instruments on genocide - although it has certainly not been slow to act on this or other aspects of the East Timor affair. A readiness to send Irish troops for peacekeeping service would be widely welcomed.
Much has yet to be decided on the composition and mandate of a UN force. Already thousands have lost their lives in the military rampage which followed the announcement of the referendum result. Many thousands more are at immediate risk in mountain refuges and detention camps. If they are not rescued in coming days the conspiracy to reverse their democratic vote will have largely succeeded in putting back their hopes of independence and self-respect for years to come. No effort must be spared to retrieve the credibility and self-respect of the United Nations, which looked so irretrievably lost after last week's humiliating reversal.