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)