UNSC endorses plan for E. Timor vote<\/p>\n
UNITED NATIONS (Agencies): The UN Security Council endorsed on
\nFriday agreements that will enable the people of East Timor to
\ndecide their own future in an Aug. 8 vote, Reuters reported.<\/p>\n
The accords were signed at the United Nations on Wednesday by
\nForeign Minister Ali Alatas of Indonesia and his Portuguese
\ncounterpart, Jaime Gama. They provide for a UN-organized vote to
\ndetermine whether the East Timorese want wide-ranging autonomy
\nunder Indonesia rule or would prefer to move toward independence.<\/p>\n
The Security Council resolution, sponsored by Britain,
\nstressed the responsibility of the Indonesian government \"to
\nmaintain peace and security in East Timor\" to ensure the voting
\nis carried out \"in a fair and peaceful way and in an atmosphere
\nfree of intimidation, violence or interference from any side.\"<\/p>\n
The resolution welcomed the accords and the intention of
\nSecretary-General Kofi Annan to establish as soon as practicable
\n\"a United Nations presence\" in East Timor to assist in conducting
\na \"popular consultation\" of the wishes of the East Timorese.<\/p>\n
It welcomed his plan to make available \"a number of civilian
\npolice officers to act as advisers to the Indonesian police\" and
\nto supervise the escort of ballot papers and boxes to and from
\nthe polling sites.<\/p>\n
The United Nations is expected to send about 600 civilians and
\nan unspecified number of police advisers to East Timor.<\/p>\n
The resolution asked Annan to keep the council closely
\ninformed of the situation in East Timor and to provide a report
\nby May 24 with details of the voting process and recommendations
\nabout the mandate, size and structure of the UN mission.<\/p>\n
Annan was asked to provide reports every 14 days thereafter
\nand to inform the council before the start of voter registration,
\ndue June 13, whether \"the necessary security situation exists for
\nthe peaceful implementation of the consultation process.\"<\/p>\n
The resolution welcomed the establishment of a trust fund to
\nenable UN members to make voluntary contributions to support the
\nUN mission in East Timor and urged all members able to do so to
\ncontribute without delay.<\/p>\n
The UN operation was expected to cost between $30 million and
\n$45 million. Portugal has given $10 million and Australia pledged
\n$7 million and a similar amount in equipment and other items.<\/p>\n
In Brussels, the European Union said on Friday that it would
\ndonate one million euros ($1.08 million) to the UN trust fund.<\/p>\n
Manuel Marin, the acting EU commissioner responsible for parts
\nof Asia, said Commission officials had begun work on preparing an
\nintegrated aid program for East Timor. The package could be worth
\nbetween 15 and 20 million euros over five years, EU sources said.<\/p>\n
From the United Nations, AFP reported that an American and two
\nBritons are in the running to head up the UN mission in East
\nTimor to prepare for the August ballot.<\/p>\n
Annan was expected to make his choice in the coming days. Two
\nof the three candidates have strong human rights backgrounds.<\/p>\n
American Eric Morris currently serves as deputy to Elisabeth
\nRehn of Finland, who is the UN human rights special envoy to
\nBosnia. Briton Julian Harston is the head of the UN mission in
\nHaiti, which includes a human rights contingent. And his fellow
\ncountryman, Ian Martin, who is also under consideration, formerly
\nheaded the UN human rights mission in Rwanda.<\/p>\n
AFP also reported that the first member of a UN police force
\narrived in Dili, capital of East Timor, on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"I have come to assess and to plan for the civilian police
\noperation,\" said Om Rathor, from India, soon after arriving at
\nComoro airport.<\/p>\n
Four other UN officials believed to be members of a technical
\nteam preparing the ballot arrived on the same plane.<\/p>\n
The main police contingent was expected to arrive on Monday.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unsc-endorses-plan-for-e-timor-vote-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }