RI, Portugal agree on 'direct' ballot

RI, Portugal agree on 'direct' ballot

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia and Portugal have agreed on a "direct"
ballot for East Timorese to decide on their future, United
Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced in New York on
Thursday.

The agreement was reached after two days of negotiations
between Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Alatas and his Portuguese
counterpart Jaime Gama under the auspices of the secretary-
general.

"The meeting has reached an agreement that a method of direct
ballot will be used to ask the people of East Timor whether they
accept or reject the autonomy proposal," Annan said.

"Specific modalities of how the popular consultation will be
carried out", were not yet resolved, he said.

Alatas said on Wednesday that Indonesia would reject a
referendum as a means to settle East Timor problems, saying a
referendum would trigger a civil war and be costly.

"The direct vote is as democratic as a referendum," Alatas
said on Thursday.

Annan said it was intended the vote would take place during a
single day in East Timor, a key Portuguese demand for its former
colony, though more time would probably be required to consult
East Timorese living abroad.

According to Alatas there are about 600,000 eligible voters in
East Timor, which has a population of 800,000. Up to 30,000 East
Timorese reside in Australia, Canada, Macau, Portugal and the
United States,Antara reported from New York.

United Nations (UN) special representative Jamsheed Marker,
who chaired the proceedings, said the agreement was a "very, very
large step forward".

Marker emphasized that difficulties remained, with many
details still to be finalized including the size of the UN
presence.

Annan said senior officials from the two countries would meet
on April 13 and 14 to prepare for further ministerial level talks
scheduled for April 22.

An information campaign beginning in May would inform East
Timorese of the proposals, AFP reported.

Alatas said on Wednesday Indonesia was ready to accept any
method -- except by referendum -- to fulfill East Timorese
demands for independence or wide-ranging autonomy from Indonesia.

"If they want autonomy, fine. If they want independence,
fine," Alatas told AFP on Thursday.

Alatas reiterated Jakarta's opposition to a "full-fledged
referendum", which he said was "fraught with risks", because it
could set a precedent for other restive provinces.

Gama described the agreement as a "turning point" in
discussions the two countries have been holding for years over
the disputed territory.

He emphasized the agreement to consult East Timorese both in
the territory and abroad was in line with Portugal's democratic
concerns.

"For us, the methodology for consulting the East Timorese will
be the same as the methodology used in free and fair elections in
democratic countries."

President B.J. Habibie dropped a bombshell in January with his
offer to grant independence to East Timor after 23 years of
integration, if it rejected wide-ranging autonomy proposals
expected to be finalized next month.

Jailed East Timorese rebel leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana"
Gusmao hailed Indonesia's agreement to hold a direct vote in East
Timor. "The Republic of Indonesia, by accepting to carry out a
method of consultation ... took an important step.

"The people of East Timor know that they are not alone, and
they have received numerous guarantees of moral, political and
economic support for the period of transition towards
independence."

Exiled East Timor resistance leader Jose Ramos Horta was
dubious over the agreement, saying that Indonesia should prove
that it was trustworthy.

"I judge them (Indonesians) on their actions on the ground and
not their promises. Their actions speak much louder."

Australian Defense Minister John Moore said on Friday
Indonesia's decision to allow East Timorese a "direct vote" on
autonomy should reduce the prospect of violence in the troubled
territory. "The move to a ballot in East Timor is a very good
step," Moore told Reuters.

Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the New York
accord was a positive sign. Australia has already ordered a new
force of 3,000 combat troops be sent to Darwin, the staging post
for East Timor, 600 kilometers to the north of the city.

"I look forward in the weeks ahead to further progress,"
Downer said. (prb)