Indonesia pledges fair East Timor vote

DILI, East Timor (JP): A team of top government and military officials pledged here on Monday their commitment to a fair popular consultation on self-determination in East Timor next month.

"TNI (the Indonesian Military) and the police fully support the agreement achieved by the government in the tripartite (talks)," military chief Gen. Wiranto said.

"The decision (by President B.J. Habibie to hold the vote) is final. The benefit and losses have been carefully calculated and together we support the policy."

Wiranto was speaking at the end of a day-long visit by 16 senior ministers, including Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas, Minister of Justice Muladi, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs and Security Feisal Tanjung, Coordinating Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry Ginandjar Kartasasmita and Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus. National Police chief Gen. Roesmanhadi was also present at the meetings with UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) representatives and local officials.

The visit came two days after United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan warned that poor security -- which is the responsibility of the Indonesian police -- threatened the polls.

Annan held Indonesia responsible for delaying the start of the voter registration by three days from Tuesday. He said the process would only begin on Friday if tangible improvements in security were witnessed.

Annan said the main reason for the delay was Jakarta's failure to control pro-Jakarta armed militias operating "with impunity" in the former Portuguese colony.

The militias have openly attacked and intimidated proindependence East Timorese and, most recently, UNAMET members.

Alatas said the number of ministers in the delegation "shows our government's determination, our sincerity and our seriousness to really implement what we have agreed to do on the basis of the New York agreement".

He said Indonesia "welcomed" the three-day delay, but added: "One way or another it will not affect... the holding of the actual ballot.

"That is a different decision, and it is still going to be held two weeks after the date of Aug. 8... the exact date has not yet been determined... it will be Aug. 21 or Aug. 22."

He refused to comment on specific measures the government and the military would take to improve security, saying only: "The security situation is continuously improving."

"There are still some sporadic events that should not have happened, but they are being overcome," he said, adding that Indonesian authorities were "getting to the bottom" of the two most serious militia attacks on UNAMET representatives.

"The culprits are being investigated now. We are getting to the bottom of it... and we are also taking other measures that will continue to improve the security situation."

Annan's special envoy Francesc Vendrell told AFP after an hour-long meeting with Alatas at police headquarters that the two had discussed "the conditions laid down in the agreement, both in terms of security and in terms of allowing a greater level playing field".

"I think I have... noticed a great willingness to see the problem as it is and to do something about it.

"They (the Indonesian government) have certainly said they will take measures that we believe are needed to allow everybody to express their views, to allow everybody to have freedom of movement in the territory," Francesc was quoted as saying.

Under an agreement signed in New York in May with the UN, Indonesia and Portugal agreed the East Timorese would vote on Aug. 8 on whether they accept an offer of broad autonomy under Indonesia.

But last month Annan delayed the vote by two weeks, citing logistical and security reasons.

Annan will decide on Friday whether the vote will go ahead as scheduled.(33)