Monitoring team reports intimidation<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A private team monitoring the process of a
\ndirect ballot for Aug. 30 in East Timor said that overall, the
\nregistration process was running smoothly but, intimidation was
\nstill being reported in a number of places.<\/p>\n
The Independent Committee of the Ballot Monitoring (Kiper)
\nsaid in a report made available here over the weekend that the
\nscale of intimidation was found to be \"light\" to \"severe\".<\/p>\n
Kiper was set up recently by several individuals inside and
\noutside East Timor to monitor the United Nations-sponsored direct
\nballot.<\/p>\n
Claiming to have 300 volunteers, it lists prominent scholars
\non its board as well as activists. Among others, members of the
\nadvisory council include Australia-based researcher on East Timor
\nGeorge Junus Aditjondro, sociologist Arief Budiman, the National
\nCommission against Violence of Women's chairwoman Saparinah Sadli
\nand Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo. Abdurrahman Wahid,
\nleader of the influential Nahdlatul Ulama organization, is also
\nan advisor.<\/p>\n
Kiper will observe the ballot in East Timor's 13 regencies
\napart from those in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar and
\nUjungpandang, South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
Bonar Tigor Naipospos, who leads the Solidamor organization
\nwhich has been among those campaigning the East Timor issue, is
\nKiper's chairman.<\/p>\n
Kiper's report states that intimidation was found to have come
\nfrom civilian and military personnel and from proautonomy
\nmilitia, particularly outside the capital.<\/p>\n
Among the registration glitches, Kiper noted a lack of
\nunderstanding and a lack of socialization of requirements.<\/p>\n
\"One important problem is a lack of freedom from fear,\"
\ndespite conditions agreed to at UN Headquarters in an agreement
\nbetween Portugal and Indonesia regarding the ballot, Kiper said.<\/p>\n
The ballot lacks a crisis center to where people can report
\ncomplaints, Kiper said.<\/p>\n
Another difficulty was the distance between residences and
\nregistration centers, Kiper added. \"For the elderly, disabled or
\nill, (registration) is a problem, while registration officials of
\nthe UNAMET (UN Mission in East Timor) are generally passive,\"
\nKiper said. (anr)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/monitoring-team-reports-intimidation-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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