Observers praise East Timor ballot<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Both local and international observers responded
\nfavorably to the largely peaceful direct ballot in East Timor on
\nMonday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, who helped
\nbroker the historic vote in East Timor, told the Associated Press
\nTelevision News he was filled with \"hopeful anticipation\".<\/p>\n
However, he added it was too soon to say he was \"relieved\".<\/p>\n
He said the government's position was to encourage the East
\nTimorese to remain a part of Indonesia, but he repeated the
\ngovernment's commitment to abide by the results of the vote.
\n\"After personally spending so much time on efforts to find a
\ncomprehensive and just solution to the East Timor question, of
\ncourse I'm very happy that finally the opportunity has arrived
\nfor such a solution.\"<\/p>\n
Alatas said security disturbances were \"sporadic and they were
\nmanageable, and we hope that we can bring them to a minimum\".<\/p>\n
Indonesian Military Commander Gen. Wiranto praised the United
\nNations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) on Monday for peacefully
\nconducting the referendum on independence.<\/p>\n
\"I think on the whole UNAMET has implemented its duty well,\"
\nWiranto said amid continuing charges that UNAMET discriminated
\nagainst prointegration supporters.<\/p>\n
\"If there has been any deficiency or imperfection then it is
\nonly normal. I don't think we should blow it out of proportion,\"
\nWiranto said. He added that clashes occurred outside only one of
\nhundreds of polling stations.<\/p>\n
The ballot, which could end Indonesia's more than 23-year rule
\nof East Timor, went relatively smoothly, with only reports of
\nminor violence.<\/p>\n
The United Nations said more than 90 percent of registered
\nvoters cast their ballots.<\/p>\n
In the provincial capital of Dili, the UN's special envoy for
\nEast Timor Jamsheed Marker was quoted by AFP as saying on Monday
\nthat \"clearly the voters were not intimidated about going to the
\npolls\".<\/p>\n
In Baucau, south of the capital, Marker and his wife were
\nswamped by well-wishers who split a coconut and offered him the
\njuice.<\/p>\n
District electoral officer Pierre-Paul Martin, a Canadian,
\nsaid villagers had built the polling booths themselves out of
\npalm thatch, one for each village, AFP reported.<\/p>\n
Marker said he was \"encouraged\" by the enthusiastic turnout,
\nand reports that he was prevented from landing in Viqueque by
\nprointegration militia were not important.<\/p>\n
From London, AFP reported British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook
\non Monday welcomed the large turnout for the autonomy vote.<\/p>\n
\"The international community will now have the big task to
\nhelp these people into real independence. We may need to look at
\nhow we may help with a transition administration, but this will
\nlargely depend on the reaction within Indonesia,\" he said.<\/p>\n
From Tokyo, the news agency reported that Japan's Prime
\nMinister Keizo Obuchi said on Monday he hoped \"the ballot
\nresults would be respected\". He also pressed armed factions in
\nEast Timor to give up their weapons and work for a peaceful
\nsolution.<\/p>\n
Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Guterres said the referendum
\nwas \"a moment of great emotion\" after years of efforts by
\nPortugal to push Indonesia into holding a ballot, AP reported
\nfrom Lisbon. However, he added \"it was still too early to sit
\nback and relax\" because \"a lot could still happen\", a reference
\nto recent clashes in the territory.<\/p>\n
Portugal's Foreign Minister Jaime Gama said if voters chose
\nindependence, he would negotiate with Jakarta to ensure
\nIndonesia's \"gradual, peaceful and dignified\" withdrawal.<\/p>\n
UN officials said 2,204 East Timorese were registered to vote
\nin Lisbon and voting was going smoothly, AP reported.<\/p>\n
While Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the
\nsituation was relatively safe during the balloting, AP reported
\nfrom Darwin that preparations were underway for a possible
\nevacuation of Australian nationals in East Timor.<\/p>\n
On standby was a Blackhawk helicopter, a high-speed catamaran
\nand a C-130 Hercules aircraft, Defense Force spokesman Lt. Col.
\nDavid Tyler said. Darwin, 600 kilometers southeast of East Timor
\nacross the Timor Sea, is the closest point on mainland Australia
\nto the Indonesian province.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, legislators voiced resentment against \"foreign
\ninterference\" by \"arrogant\", large countries.<\/p>\n
The chairperson of House Commission I for political affairs,
\nAisyah Amini, lambasted United States President Bill Clinton's
\nearlier warning to President B.J. Habibie. Clinton said relations
\nbetween the two countries could be affected if violence continued
\nduring the ballot in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Another legislator, Usyamah Hisyam, criticized Australian
\nPrime Minister John Howard for calling on Habibie to stress
\nsecurity ahead of the ballot.<\/p>\n
With the presence of UNAMET there was no need for such
\nremarks, Usyanah said, adding that the statements were tantamount
\nto \"foreign interference in our internal affairs\". (prb)<\/p>",
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