UNAMET plans to work with KPS
UNAMET plans to work with KPS
DILI, East Timor (JP): The United Nations Mission in East
Timor (UNAMET) plans to cooperate with the Commission for Peace
and Stability (KPS) to formulate a code of conduct to ensure
security in the province ahead of the self-determination vote in
August, KPS member Benjamin Mangkoedilaga said on Tuesday.
Speaking to journalists in Dili, the respected retired judge
said both organizations had prepared drafts to be discussed on
Wednesday in Jakarta.
"Both UNAMET and KPS have an equal position and will work
together to supervise and organize the direct ballot," Benjamin
said.
According to an agreement between Indonesia and Portugal in
May, the Commission, in cooperation with the UN, will create a
code of conduct to realize the laying down of arms on all sides
and make the necessary steps to achieve disarmament for the
period prior to and following the direct vote.
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice/State Secretary Muladi assured
the UN secretary-general's representative on East Timor, Jamsheed
Marker, that the government was not behind the ongoing violence
in the province.
The minister described the clashes between warring factions in
East Timor as emotional outbursts rather than systematic efforts
to thwart the United Nations-sponsored direct ballot in the
former Portuguese territory.
"What is important at present is how to disarm these factions
as quickly as possible and how to socialize the concept of wide-
ranging autonomy being offered by the Indonesian government,"
Muladi said.
Reuters reported that the UN was almost certain to delay a
planned independence ballot in the territory because of a wave of
terror by pro-Indonesia militias.
"It will be announced in about 12 hours in New York," the news
agency quoted an unidentified diplomat as saying on Tuesday.
The Indonesian Task Force for the Implementation of the
Popular Consultation in East Timor said in a statement on Tuesday
that the security situation has improved, although there have
been isolated cases of political violence.
"But these are in no way detract from the overall picture of
security, where tension has significantly subsided and where
there has been no open clash between prointegration and
proindependence elements," read the statement signed by the head
of the task force, Dino Patti Djalal.
Registration of about 400,000 eligible voters, scheduled to
begin on Monday, has been delayed because of security concerns,
UNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst said.
"We are waiting for the secretary-general to make his
determination of whether the security situation allows the vote
to go forward," Wimhurst said.
Amnesty International reported that at least 34 people have
been murdered in East Timor since May 5.
According to the agreement between Indonesia and Portugal,
preparation and registration for the ballot is scheduled to start
on June 13, while campaigning by supporters of either option
would take place from July 20 to Aug. 5 before the direct ballot
on Aug. 8.
UNAMET has said it is still unable to completely translate the
agreement and Indonesian proposal for wide-ranging autonomy from
English to the local Tetun language.
Separately, deputy chief of the East Timor Police Col. Muafhi
Sahudji disclosed on Tuesday that police had prepared special
warehouses to store the weapons of the warring factions in the
province for when the arms were given up.
"We are ready to accept their weapons," he said.(prb/33)