Muladi spoke 'too soon' on changing East Timor vote date

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas insisted on Monday that Minister of Justice Muladi spoke prematurely when he said on Friday that the government had moved forward by a day the direct vote in East Timor.

Alatas said the change to Aug. 7 was merely a government proposal which still needed approval from the United Nations and the Portuguese government.

He acknowledged the international community was "rightly" angered by Muladi's announcement but hoped "this has not made it difficult".

"We have made this proposal to the UN and Portugal. Unfortunately Pak Muladi made a premature announcement," Alatas said during a news conference at his office.

On the voting agenda itself, Ali stated that before the vote- registration day, set for June 13, UN secretary-general Kofi Annan was required to produce a UN assessment report on whether security conditions in East Timor were conducive to the holding of the ballot.

Muladi, who is also minister/state secretary, downplayed his statement after meeting with President B.J. Habibie at Merdeka Palace on Monday.

"Even stupid person must know that it is impossible for us to unilaterally decide (on the change), but it must be conducted through negotiation," he said.

Muladi believed the proposed change was unlikely to face any objection because it was merely aimed at respecting residents of the predominantly Catholic province by changing the vote from Aug. 8, which is a Sunday.

"I think there is no problem," Muladi said.

At the news conference, Alatas also said that 600 members of a UN Assessment Team for East Timor (UNAMET), headed by Ian Martin, would arrive in East Timor by mid-June.

The UN personnel will include 400 electoral officials in charge of overall preparations for the ballot, at least 15 political advisors, UN security guards for the internal security of UN personnel and the international civilian police who will act as advisors to the Indonesian police during the ballot.

Martin, who has similar experiences in Rwanda and Haiti, is scheduled to arrive in the capital on May 27 and will proceed to Dili on May 29.

"The mission will stay a short while after the balloting," Alatas said without elaboration.

Alatas added that 200 registration centers would be set up across the province and 700 polling booths would operate within the centers on the day of the vote.

According to him, the UN, Indonesia and Portugal will decide later whether the UN police would be allowed to carry light arms in East Timor for self-protection.

Alatas also said the government rejected the plan of Dili Bishop Carlos Ximenes Belo and Baucau Bishop Basilio do Nascimento to organize a meeting between proindependence and pro- Jakarta groups in Australia, saying the meeting must be held in Indonesia.

The minister criticized the bishops' plan to invite foreigners, like Australian leaders and bishops, to attend the meeting.

"It includes the Australian prime minister, Australia's minister for foreign affairs, bishops from the Philippines and Portugal... why them? This is an internal affair, is it not?" the minister said.

He said the dialog was a good idea as long as it was held on "Indonesian soil".

"Regretfully the government disagrees with the terms, especially of the venue taking place in Australia," he said. (ylt/prb)