Postponement E. Timor ballot<\/p>\n
From Media Indonesia<\/p>\n
According to a morning news report from one private television
\nstation on July 29, Indonesia is now considering the offer of
\nUnited Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan that the direct
\nballot on the future status of East Timor, scheduled to be held
\non Aug. 21 or Aug. 22, should be postponed to Aug. 30. The reason
\nfor this postponement is that the registration for participation
\nin this direct ballot began a few days after the original
\nschedule, necessitating the extension of the registration period
\nto a new deadline, which is yet to be determined.<\/p>\n
The proposal to postpone the direct ballot has tickled our
\ncuriosity and left us wondering what is really going on in East
\nTimor. Have the East Timorese themselves hampered the
\nimplementation process of the direct ballot by creating turmoil
\nand insecurity, or is it because the UN Mission in East Timor
\n(UNAMET) officials themselves are not really ready for this
\nproject? In this context the explanation made by Nahdlatul Ulama
\nchairman Abdurrahman Wahid (better known as Gus Dur), who has
\njust been to East Timor, is worth contemplating. According to
\nhim, the situation in East Timor is secure, with the exception of
\none or two incidents that may be considered quite normal.<\/p>\n
Some people have lodged their objection to the obligation to
\nshow a baptism certificate in addition to the residence
\nidentification card when registering for participation in the
\nupcoming direct ballot. This objection should be studied by those
\nin charge of the registration process and if necessary an
\nalternative should be sought to ensure that the East Timorese who
\nare actually eligible to take part in the upcoming direct ballot
\nwill not miss their opportunity simply because of their inability
\nto fulfill the additional requirement (the baptism certificate).<\/p>\n
In fact, Indonesia's good intention to sign a tripartite
\nagreement (with the United Nations and Portugal) to settle once
\nand for all the East Timor question should be supported by all
\nparties concerned. If all conflicting parties realize the
\nsignificance of this direct ballot, they will certainly restrain
\nthemselves and help maintain the security in this region so that
\nthe implementation of the direct ballot will no longer be
\npostponed. It must be borne in mind that security matters are the
\nresponsibility of both security apparatuses and the East Timorese
\npeople as a whole.<\/p>\n
The upcoming direct ballot is important because it will
\ndetermine the future status of East Timor. Therefore the
\nimplementation of the direct ballot must be supported by all
\nparties, particularly those still embroiled in conflicts. They
\nmust remember that the fate of East Timor depends on their own
\nchoices. Most important of all is that all parties can accept the
\noutcome of the direct ballot, whichever it may be: remaining
\nwithin the Republic of Indonesia with wide-ranging autonomy or
\nbecoming an independent state.<\/p>\n
SYNTHIA W.<\/p>\n
Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/postponement-e-timor-ballot-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }