Green light for East Timor ballot

JAKARTA (JP): United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced on Wednesday that despite misgivings about security in East Timor, voter registration for the self-determination ballot in the territory would begin on Friday.

In a letter to the UN Security Council (UNSC) president, Hasmy Agam, a copy of which was made available here on Thursday, Annan said "violence and intimidation have continued to be carried out with impunity by pro-autonomy militias".

Despite the pessimistic analysis, he said his decision to begin the registration was based on "positive assurance by the Indonesian authorities, on the condition that meaningful, visible improvements in the security situation will be observed in the immediate future".

Annan said the UN was determined to go ahead with the ballot "undeterred by the intimidation, and in view of the need to adhere to the shortest possible time frame".

He said the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) would continuously assess the security situation, and that he intended to review conditions halfway through the registration period.

The secretary-general has delayed the direct ballot from its original schedule, from Aug. 8 to either Aug. 21 or Aug. 22, due to logistical difficulties and security problems. Voter registration was also delayed for two days from Wednesday.

On Thursday and Friday (New York local time), a senior official from Portugal's foreign ministry, Fernando Neves, and his Indonesian counterpart, Nugroho Wisnumurti, are scheduled to meet again with UN special representative Jamsheed Marker to discuss vote preparations and a post-ballot plan.

"Registration will be a success so long as people are not using arms, as long as violent acts are not taking place," UNAMET chief Ian Martin said in Dili.

UNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst announced in Dili that all 200 registration centers, each staffed with two electoral officers, would open simultaneously to register up to 400,000 eligible voters as of 7 a.m. on Friday. The registration period will proceed for 20 days.

Wimhurst said registration centers would also open simultaneously in other Indonesian cities, as well as overseas to cater for thousands of East Timorese who fled the former Portuguese colony from the period of Indonesia's entry in 1975.

U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Stanley Roth, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador Stapleton Roy, arrived in Dili on Thursday to carry out a direct assessment of conditions in the troubled territory.

Roth, who will stay in the province until Saturday, reiterated his country's concern over reports of violence by pro-Indonesian militias and the source of their support.

"I think I made clear (on Wednesday) the fact that there was significant evidence that elements of the military have been supporting some of the militia groups, and that was a large contribution to the lack of security," Roth said before meeting Ian Martin.

Roth warned the government on Wednesday that it would incur strained ties with the international community, including the U.S., if it failed to restore security in the province.

Ian Martin and East Timor Police chief Col. Timbul Silaen visited Manatuto and Viqueque regencies on Thursday morning, following reports that prointegrationists had rejected participating in the ballot, following their claims that UNAMET was biased toward proindependence groups.

"We have come to an agreement that all problems will be solved, so that the ballot can be conducted in a conducive atmosphere," Timbul said.

Citing international reports, East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said the security situation remained fragile in Liquica, Maliana, Viqueque, Suai and Dili.

"According to the international community, in the five regencies there are still violations of regulations set up by the UN," the governor said in Liquica, referring to the requirement to ensure peace ahead of the ballot in the May 5 agreement between Indonesia and Portugal.

The governor said conditions in the regencies of Ambeno, Aileu, Ermera, Ainaro, Manatuto, Baucau, Manufahi and Lautem were stable.

From Lisbon, Antara reported that Indonesia would send three officials to observe registration of 1,700 East Timorese in Portugal. Australia, with some 20,000 East Timorese, has one of the largest number of ballot participants outside the province. (33/prb)