Subject: JP: UN, U.S. still upset over Timor
security
Date: Sat, 24 Jul 1999 12:02:23 -0400
From: "John M. Miller" <fbp@igc.apc.org>Received from Joyo Indonesian
News:
Jakarta Post 18 July 1999
UN, U.S. still upset over Timor security
JAKARTA (JP): The United Nations and U.S. officials said on Saturday that they were
still concerned over poor security and rampant violence in East Timor both ahead of and
after the self-determination ballot planned for August.
The concerns were aired even as pro-Indonesia groups celebrated the 23rd anniversary of
the 1976 integration of the tiny territory into Indonesia.
Speaking to journalists after presiding over a meeting between Indonesian and
Portuguese officials at UN headquarters in New York, UN special envoy to East Timor
Jamsheed Marker said the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) was anticipating "some
form of increased security", in the province.
"I am concerned about the sort of hiatus that's going to exist between the time of
the counting of the ballot and the announcement of the results -- which won't take long --
and the subsequent action that is to be taken by the governments," he told reporters
after the talks.
According to AP, when asked whether a UN peacekeeping force was being considered, he
said the UN was not excluding any options.
Marker claimed that Indonesia and Portugal had reacted positively to new UN proposals
to beef up security in East Timor immediately after the ballot.
"We anticipate some form of increased security after the vote," said Marker.
In Jakarta, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas described the meeting between
foreign ministry senior official Nugroho Wisnumurti and his Portuguese counterpart
Fernando Neves as a part of UN efforts to anticipate the implementation of the ballot
results. For instance, there were questions about the next UN steps if the majority of
voters agreed to remain part of Indonesia or if they wanted an independent state.
"It has been actually stipulated in the May 5 agreement (between the two
countries)," Alatas said after attending the installment of Adm. Widodo A.S. as
Indonesian Military (TNI) deputy commander and Vice Adm. Sutjipto as navy chief of staff
at the State Palace.
According to the agreement, if the majority of the people agree to remain part of
Indonesia, the government will initiate the constitutional measures necessary for the
implementation of the autonomy framework.
Then Portugal will initiate within the UN the procedures necessary for the removal of
East Timor from the list of Non Self-Governing Territories of the General Assembly and the
deletion of the East Timor question from the UN agendas.
If proindependence groups win the direct vote, Indonesia then will take constitutional
steps to eliminate its link with the territory. The UN secretary-general will then
initiate the procedure enabling East Timor to begin the process of transition toward
independence.
The 1996 Nobel Peace Prize co-laureate, Jose Ramos-Horta, has said that he would prefer
East Timor be governed by the UN for few years until the people were fully prepared to
govern themselves.
"It is only his own view," Alatas said on Saturday.
In Dili, visiting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth reiterated his hope
that Indonesia would step up its efforts to curb rampant intimidation and violence ahead
of the ballot.
"There still needs to be more progress before one can have confidence that it's
(the registration and voting process) going to work, particularly in dealing with the
climate of intimidation," Roth told AFP after a 30- minute meeting with East Timor
Governor Jose Abilio Soares.
Roth has warned that Indonesia's relations with the international community, including
the U.S., would be severely affected if it failed to halt violations. He clearly held
prointegration militias the most responsible for the violence.
Meanwhile, the governor led a ceremony marking Integration Day outside his office. The
event was attended by about 500 civil servants and pro- Indonesia militias, including the
Aitarak group which raised banners reading "Integration Dead or Alive".
Soares said autonomy was the most just and realistic solution for East Timor and all
parties should accept it.
"This is a positive opportunity to build and design a better future for East
Timor," Soares said.
UNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst said that some of the 200 registration centers were
closed on Saturday in a bid to anticipate possible clashes between pro- and
anti-independence supporters.
"Because of the big festivities for Integration Day in Balibo, three registration
centers are not open on the advice of the Indonesian Police," Wimhurst said.
Balibo is a small town in Bobonaro regency near East Nusa Tenggara, where a dozen East
Timorese clan leaders signed a declaration in July 17, 1976 stating that East Timor would
become Indonesia's 27th province.
Meanwhile, Japan Broadcasting Corp. NHK reported that Japanese foreign minister
Masahiko Komura planned to visit Indonesia later this month, where he would also raise the
East Timor issue during talks with President B.J. Habibie. (27/33/prb)
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