Details of UN agreement
Details of UN agreement
NEW YORK (AP): Here are details of an agreement on the future
of East Timor signed by Indonesia and Portugal at the United
Nations on Wednesday.
BALLOT QUESTION: East Timorese voters at home and abroad will
be asked two questions on the ballot Aug. 8:
"Do you accept the proposed special autonomy for East Timor
within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia?" or "Do
you reject the proposed special autonomy for East Timor, leading
to East Timor's separation from Indonesia?"
The ballot papers will include symbols for illiterate voters.
VOTERS: Voters must be 17 or older. They must have been born
in East Timor, or have at least one parent who was born there, or
be married to someone born in East Timor or with a parent born
there.
SECURITY: The Indonesian authorities will "ensure a secure
environment" for a free and fair vote. A number of UN security
guards will be deployed to protect UN personnel, and a number of
international civilian police will advise Indonesian police
before and during the voting. No figures were given.
EDUCATION: The United Nations will make available the text of
the main autonomy agreement in Tetun, Bahasa Indonesia,
Portuguese and English. UN officials will also conduct an
information campaign explaining the content of the autonomy
proposal and the implication of an "accept" or "reject" vote.
CAMPAIGN: The United Nations will propose a campaign code of
conduct for supporters and opponents of the autonomy proposal.
The governments of Indonesia and Portugal may not participate in
the campaign, which will run from July 20-Aug. 5.
OBSERVERS: Indonesia and Portugal can send an equal number of
representatives to observe the ballot. Other international
observers will also be present.
REGISTRATION: Eligible voters will be registered between June
13 and July 17 in 200 centers in East Timor and in places outside
the territory with large Timorese populations, such as Jakarta,
Lisbon and Sydney. Those same centers will be used for the actual
polling.