Vote on East Timor to be held in July<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A United Nations-organized ballot to determine
\nif East Timorese want independence or to remain part of Indonesia
\nwill be held in July, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas
\nannounced on Monday.<\/p>\n
The direct ballot -- which he described as a direct
\nconsultation among the entire 800,000 population -- will be held
\nin the territory. Overseas East Timorese will vote in their
\nrespective countries of residence, Alatas said.<\/p>\n
\"It will be better to probe the views of the East Timorese
\npeople in July, after the elections (June 7),\" Alatas said after
\naccompanying President B.J. Habibie in welcoming visiting
\nCambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced on Friday that
\nAlatas and his Portuguese counterpart Jaime Gama had agreed on a
\n\"direct\" ballot for East Timorese to decide its future. A formal
\nagreement is expected to be signed on April 22.<\/p>\n
Alatas has repeatedly insisted that Indonesia would oppose a
\nreferendum because it would be costly and too risky. The direct
\nballot will be financed by the UN and several countries.<\/p>\n
Among requirements for a referendum would be the physical
\npresence in the province of East Timorese living abroad, and
\nwithdrawal of Armed Forces (ABRI) troops from the territory or at
\nleast a reduced presence, Alatas noted.<\/p>\n
With the direct voting plan, he said, \"there will be U.N.
\nteams working abroad to probe people's views, and there will be
\nother teams working in East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"The ballot will be conducted simultaneously and the
\ntechniques and details are still being analyzed.\"<\/p>\n
In an interview with an Australian TV station broadcast on
\nSaturday, Annan disclosed the UN plan to establish an
\ninternational presence in East Timor as soon as negotiations
\nbetween Indonesia and Portugal were concluded in April.<\/p>\n
The world body will rely on the military and other support
\nfrom countries, including Australia, to ensure a ballot to decide
\nthe future of East Timor is peaceful and fair, Annan said.<\/p>\n
\"We will try to ensure that it (the ballot) is credible, it is
\ndemocratic, it is free, it is well organized and only those who
\nare entitled to vote are admitted at the ballot box,\" he said as
\nquoted by AP.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, former proindependence Fretilin leader Abilio
\nAraujo announced on Monday the plan of 15 prominent East Timorese
\nfigures to meet in Jakarta this week.<\/p>\n
The purpose of the meeting is to ensure a peaceful settlement
\nin the province either by maintaining its integration with
\nIndonesia or through independence.<\/p>\n
\"We have different opinions but we can talk among ourselves,\"
\nAraujo said over the weekend.<\/p>\n
He said participants would include himself, jailed rebel Jose
\nAlexandre \"Xanana\" Gusmao, Ambassador-at-large Lopez da Cruz,
\nEast Timor Governor Jose Osorio Abilio Soares, human rights
\nactivist Clementino dos Reis Amaral and former governor Mario
\nViegas Carrascalao.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the National Commission on Human Rights agreed with
\nthe proposal of Xanana's organization, the National Council for
\nan Independent East Timor (CNRT), to hold reconciliatory dialogs
\nwith other groups in the tiny territory to ensure peace.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the CNRT will protect teachers and paramedics, and
\neconomic sectors which play important roles (in East Timor).
\nTheir departure from East Timor will only increase the burden of
\nordinary people,\" commission member B.N. Marbun told CNRT
\nexecutive David Ximenes on Monday. (prb)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/vote-on-east-timor-to-be-held-in-july-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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