Indonesia pledges fair East Timor vote<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): A team of top government and military
\nofficials pledged here on Monday their commitment to a fair
\npopular consultation on self-determination in East Timor next
\nmonth.<\/p>\n
\"TNI (the Indonesian Military) and the police fully support
\nthe agreement achieved by the government in the tripartite
\n(talks),\" military chief Gen. Wiranto said.<\/p>\n
\"The decision (by President B.J. Habibie to hold the vote) is
\nfinal. The benefit and losses have been carefully calculated and
\ntogether we support the policy.\"<\/p>\n
Wiranto was speaking at the end of a day-long visit by 16
\nsenior ministers, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali
\nAlatas, Minister of Justice Muladi, Coordinating Minister for
\nPolitical Affairs and Security Feisal Tanjung, Coordinating
\nMinister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita
\nand Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus. National Police chief
\nGen. Roesmanhadi was also present at the meetings with UN Mission
\nin East Timor (UNAMET) representatives and local officials.<\/p>\n
The visit came two days after United Nations Secretary-General
\nKofi Annan warned that poor security -- which is the
\nresponsibility of the Indonesian police -- threatened the polls.<\/p>\n
Annan held Indonesia responsible for delaying the start of the
\nvoter registration by three days from Tuesday. He said the
\nprocess would only begin on Friday if tangible improvements in
\nsecurity were witnessed.<\/p>\n
Annan said the main reason for the delay was Jakarta's failure
\nto control pro-Jakarta armed militias operating \"with impunity\"
\nin the former Portuguese colony.<\/p>\n
The militias have openly attacked and intimidated
\nproindependence East Timorese and, most recently, UNAMET members.<\/p>\n
Alatas said the number of ministers in the delegation \"shows
\nour government's determination, our sincerity and our seriousness
\nto really implement what we have agreed to do on the basis of the
\nNew York agreement\".<\/p>\n
He said Indonesia \"welcomed\" the three-day delay, but added:
\n\"One way or another it will not affect... the holding of the
\nactual ballot.<\/p>\n
\"That is a different decision, and it is still going to be
\nheld two weeks after the date of Aug. 8... the exact date has
\nnot yet been determined... it will be Aug. 21 or Aug. 22.\"<\/p>\n
He refused to comment on specific measures the government and
\nthe military would take to improve security, saying only: \"The
\nsecurity situation is continuously improving.\"<\/p>\n
\"There are still some sporadic events that should not have
\nhappened, but they are being overcome,\" he said, adding that
\nIndonesian authorities were \"getting to the bottom\" of the two
\nmost serious militia attacks on UNAMET representatives.<\/p>\n
\"The culprits are being investigated now. We are getting to
\nthe bottom of it... and we are also taking other measures that
\nwill continue to improve the security situation.\"<\/p>\n
Annan's special envoy Francesc Vendrell told AFP after an
\nhour-long meeting with Alatas at police headquarters that the two
\nhad discussed \"the conditions laid down in the agreement, both in
\nterms of security and in terms of allowing a greater level
\nplaying field\".<\/p>\n
\"I think I have... noticed a great willingness to see the
\nproblem as it is and to do something about it.<\/p>\n
\"They (the Indonesian government) have certainly said they
\nwill take measures that we believe are needed to allow everybody
\nto express their views, to allow everybody to have freedom of
\nmovement in the territory,\" Francesc was quoted as saying.<\/p>\n
Under an agreement signed in New York in May with the UN,
\nIndonesia and Portugal agreed the East Timorese would vote on
\nAug. 8 on whether they accept an offer of broad autonomy under
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
But last month Annan delayed the vote by two weeks, citing
\nlogistical and security reasons.<\/p>\n
Annan will decide on Friday whether the vote will go ahead as
\nscheduled.(33)<\/p>",
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