UNAMET plans to work with KPS<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The United Nations Mission in East
\nTimor (UNAMET) plans to cooperate with the Commission for Peace
\nand Stability (KPS) to formulate a code of conduct to ensure
\nsecurity in the province ahead of the self-determination vote in
\nAugust, KPS member Benjamin Mangkoedilaga said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Speaking to journalists in Dili, the respected retired judge
\nsaid both organizations had prepared drafts to be discussed on
\nWednesday in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Both UNAMET and KPS have an equal position and will work
\ntogether to supervise and organize the direct ballot,\" Benjamin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
According to an agreement between Indonesia and Portugal in
\nMay, the Commission, in cooperation with the UN, will create a
\ncode of conduct to realize the laying down of arms on all sides
\nand make the necessary steps to achieve disarmament for the
\nperiod prior to and following the direct vote.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice\/State Secretary Muladi assured
\nthe UN secretary-general's representative on East Timor, Jamsheed
\nMarker, that the government was not behind the ongoing violence
\nin the province.<\/p>\n
The minister described the clashes between warring factions in
\nEast Timor as emotional outbursts rather than systematic efforts
\nto thwart the United Nations-sponsored direct ballot in the
\nformer Portuguese territory.<\/p>\n
\"What is important at present is how to disarm these factions
\nas quickly as possible and how to socialize the concept of wide-
\nranging autonomy being offered by the Indonesian government,\"
\nMuladi said.<\/p>\n
Reuters reported that the UN was almost certain to delay a
\nplanned independence ballot in the territory because of a wave of
\nterror by pro-Indonesia militias.<\/p>\n
\"It will be announced in about 12 hours in New York,\" the news
\nagency quoted an unidentified diplomat as saying on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Task Force for the Implementation of the
\nPopular Consultation in East Timor said in a statement on Tuesday
\nthat the security situation has improved, although there have
\nbeen isolated cases of political violence.<\/p>\n
\"But these are in no way detract from the overall picture of
\nsecurity, where tension has significantly subsided and where
\nthere has been no open clash between prointegration and
\nproindependence elements,\" read the statement signed by the head
\nof the task force, Dino Patti Djalal.<\/p>\n
Registration of about 400,000 eligible voters, scheduled to
\nbegin on Monday, has been delayed because of security concerns,
\nUNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst said.<\/p>\n
\"We are waiting for the secretary-general to make his
\ndetermination of whether the security situation allows the vote
\nto go forward,\" Wimhurst said.<\/p>\n
Amnesty International reported that at least 34 people have
\nbeen murdered in East Timor since May 5.<\/p>\n
According to the agreement between Indonesia and Portugal,
\npreparation and registration for the ballot is scheduled to start
\non June 13, while campaigning by supporters of either option
\nwould take place from July 20 to Aug. 5 before the direct ballot
\non Aug. 8.<\/p>\n
UNAMET has said it is still unable to completely translate the
\nagreement and Indonesian proposal for wide-ranging autonomy from
\nEnglish to the local Tetun language.<\/p>\n
Separately, deputy chief of the East Timor Police Col. Muafhi
\nSahudji disclosed on Tuesday that police had prepared special
\nwarehouses to store the weapons of the warring factions in the
\nprovince for when the arms were given up.<\/p>\n
\"We are ready to accept their weapons,\" he said.(prb\/33)<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unamet-plans-to-work-with-kps-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }