UNAMET extends voter registration<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The United Nations announced on
\nWednesday an extension to the registration period for a self-
\ndetermination vote on the future of the territory.<\/p>\n
The head of the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), Ian Martin,
\ntold a media conference voter registration had been extended by
\ntwo days, until Friday, for 200 registration posts inside East
\nTimor and by four days, to Sunday, outside the province, in order
\nto allow more people to sign up for the ballot.<\/p>\n
The brief extension was recommended by UN Secretary-General
\nKofi Annan, despite the fact that registration turnout had
\nexceeded the initial estimate of 400,000.<\/p>\n
Martin said that 410,556 East Timorese inside and outside the
\nformer Portuguese colony had signed up for the ballot as of
\nMonday. The figure is expected to reach 420,000 when the
\nregistration period is concluded, he said.<\/p>\n
UNAMET will apply flexible registration schedules for the East
\nTimor regencies bordering East Nusa Tenggara, particularly
\nBobonaro and Ambeno.<\/p>\n
\"If, until Friday Aug. 6, the registration is not completed,
\nUNAMET will extend the registration period until Saturday Aug. 7,
\n1999, morning,\" Martin said.<\/p>\n
He said the extra days for registration would not change the
\ndate of the vote, which has been set for Aug. 30.<\/p>\n
Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and State
\nSecretary\/Minister of Justice Muladi last week both demanded that
\nthe UN prolong the registration period following its decision to
\ndelay the schedule for the ballot to Aug. 30.<\/p>\n
Overnight on Tuesday, the UN Security Council extended
\nUNAMET's mandate until Sept. 30, because of previous delays in
\nthe ballot date, called for by Annan for security reasons.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, David Ximenes, head of political affairs at the
\nNational Resistance Council for an Independent East Timor (CNRT),
\ndenied on Wednesday that members of its armed wing, Falintil, had
\nregistered for the ballot.<\/p>\n
\"Up to now there has been no single Falintil member sign up
\nfor the vote. They don't believe the Indonesian security
\nauthorities are able to protect them when they turn up to
\nregister,\" David said.<\/p>\n
He said the latest killing of CNRT member Angelino Amaral on
\nSunday was evidence that proindependence supporters were not
\nadequately protected.<\/p>\n
Antara reported on Tuesday that about 600 Falintil reserve
\nmembers had signed up for the ballot at a registration center in
\nBobonaro village in Odomao.<\/p>\n
Xanana<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, jailed proindependence leader Jose Alexandre
\n\"Xanana\" Gusmao registered with UNAMET officials on Wednesday at
\nthe Press Council Building on Jl. Kebon Sirih, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Xanana's lawyer Johnson Pandjaitan said the president of CNRT
\nhoped that UNAMET would not further extend the registration
\nperiod, because the mission had already met its target.<\/p>\n
\"He's afraid that changes to the registration period could
\ndelay the date for the ballot and allow for manipulations to take
\nplace,\" Johnson said.<\/p>\n
Xanana said pressure on UNAMET to open registration posts for
\ndisplaced East Timorese in East Nusa Tenggara would open
\nopportunities for fraud. He instead urged UNAMET and the
\nIndonesian government to move the refugees back to their own
\nvillages.<\/p>\n
He also suggested that UNAMET issue a campaign code of conduct
\nenabling both the proindependence and prointegration factions to
\nhold a joint rally during the campaign period, which will run
\nfrom Aug. 11 through Aug. 27.<\/p>\n
\"Let the two camps present their programs at the same forum
\nand see who is intent on violence,\" Xanana said, as quoted by
\nJohnson.<\/p>\n
Many have predicted escalating violence during the campaign
\nperiod if UNAMET cannot arrange schedules to prevent supporters
\nof the two factions from meeting.<\/p>\n
In Bali's capital Denpasar, 15 youths claiming to represent
\nthe Forum for Unity, Democracy and Justice (FPDK), a
\nprointegration group, rallied at the town's registration center
\nto demand that UNAMET stay neutral and dispose of administrative
\nbarriers for prospective voters to register for the ballot.<\/p>\n
The youths dispersed themselves after a brief talk with local
\nInternational Organization for Migration (IOM) head Mike
\nMontagano. (33\/50\/amd)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unamet-extends-voter-registration-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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