UN to set up civil administration in E. Timor before MPR session<\/p>\n
UNITED NATIONS (AFP): Indonesia has agreed to let the United
\nNations set up a civil administration in East Timor before the
\nPeople's Consultative Assembly (MPR) in Jakarta votes on formally
\nrescinding its annexation of the territory, a senior UN official
\nsaid late Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Jamsheed Marker, special envoy for UN Secretary-General Kofi
\nAnnan, said \"the Assembly will be taking a decision but we cannot
\nwait for it to do that. The Indonesians have agreed that we
\nshould start making preparations\".<\/p>\n
Marker was speaking after holding talks with Indonesian
\nMinister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and his Portuguese
\ncounterpart Jaime Gama.<\/p>\n
Under a May 5 agreement with the UN covering the Aug. 30
\nballot on self-determination in East Timor, Indonesia was to
\nremain in charge of the territory until its legislature ratified
\nthe results of the vote.<\/p>\n
Portugal was included in the talks, which were chaired by
\nAnnan, because it was the former colonial power in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Marker said the talks took \"due account of changes in the
\nsituation and the need to fill the vacuum in East Timor\" created
\nby the explosion of antiindependence violence in the territory.<\/p>\n
The ministers agreed that \"the United Nations will take up the
\nslack to get civil society going again\", he said.<\/p>\n
\"It will try to meet basic requirements starting with housing,
\nthen electricity, sanitation and power.\"<\/p>\n
Alatas tried to insist that Indonesia remain formally in
\ncharge of the civilian administration, although he admitted that
\nmany civil servants had left.<\/p>\n
\"Phase Three will begin after the People's Consultative
\nAssembly has confirmed or ratified the decision of the balloting.
\nThat will be in November,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"The deputy governor has returned but we have to admit that
\nmany government officials have left, including teachers, doctors
\nand judges.\"<\/p>\n
The Australian-led multinational force \"is de facto in charge
\nof security\", he said.<\/p>\n
\"We have handed it over to it and we have withdrawn martial
\nlaw. On the civil side we are still in charge.\"<\/p>\n
When pressed to state publicly that Indonesia was ready to
\nhand over the territory earlier than foreseen in the May 5
\nagreement, Alatas testily replied: \"Phase Three starts in
\nNovember. Am I speaking Greek?\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/un-to-set-up-civil-administration-in-e-timor-before-mpr-session-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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