UNAMET registration rules come under fire

UNAMET registration rules come under fire

DILI, East Timor (JP): The United Nations Mission in East
Timor (UNAMET) is facing mounting demands from East Timorese to
soften its regulation requiring voters in next month's self-
determination ballot to show at least two pieces of documentation
to register.

The East Timor Students and Forum for Monitoring of the Direct
Ballot (FORMATU JPI) said in a statement on Monday that UN
registration centers in Jakarta and Yogyakarta have rejected
several voters because they were able to produce only one
identification document.

"Up to today, in Yogyakarta alone, 23 voters have been
officially registered, while 10 other were rejected because they
do not have complete documents," UNAMET spokesman Filipe
Redriques Periera said in a statement.

Aspiring voters are not allowed to register if they only have
either an identity card (KTP), student card, driving license or
passport. They must also show at least one other certificate,
such as a certificate of baptism, birth, marriage, any of these
from a parent, or identity documents from the Portuguese
government called cedule de vida crista or cedula pessoal.

Many resident in East Timor, like those living outside the
province, have also complained, saying they only have the KTP,
driving license or student card. The UN body fears such documents
can easily be manipulated.

UNAMET spokesman David Wimhurst reiterated on Monday the
organization would not approve registration for any voters if
they were able to show only one of these documents.

Wimhurst said UNAMET would remain firm on its decision that
East Timorese should present proof of both identity and
eligibility.

"We do not have any intention to complicate matters for the
voters, but as proof that they are truly East Timorese they must
show the required documents," Wimhurst said.

UNAMET says the requirements have been drawn up by electoral
experts.

Wimhurst confirmed that a registration center in Cassa
village, Ainaro regency, about 50 kilometers south of Dili, was
closed on Sunday after members of the prointegration militia
Mahidi (an Indonesian acronym for "Live or Die for Integration")
tried to force UN officials to register them with only KTP
documents.

"As a result the district electoral officers and the regional
headquarters decided to close down the registration site ... (as)
their presence was considered intimidating," Wimhurst said.

According to UNAMET, eligible voters for the referendum must
be 17 or older, born in East Timor or with at least one parent
born in East Timor, or be the spouse of such a person.

Prominent prointegration leaders Eurico Guterres, Bobonaro
Regent Guiherme dos Santos and East Timor council speaker Armindo
Soares Mariano are among UNAMET's critics.

"As Bobonaro regent I can ask my people to boycott the direct
ballot," Dos Santos said.

Armindo said only Catholics could get a certificate from
church and that the requirement discriminates against East
Timorese of other faiths. He said Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus
have the same rights as Catholics, who are the majority of the
province's 800,000 population.

"KTP alone must be adequate. Everybody knows that I am a
native East Timorese," said the provincial speaker.

Meanwhile, farmer Mario Pereira, 40, was kidnapped by an armed
group in Maubara, Liquica regency, as he returned from a post of
pro-Indonesia militia Red and White Iron.

"He was on the way to his home to get his birth certificate
before visiting the registration center," East Timor Police
spokesman Capt. Widodo said as quoted by Antara.

Widodo said the 50-strong group was equipped with firearms and
sharp weapons.

On Friday, about 300 proindependence youths from Raitahu and
Caraubalo subdistricts attacked nearby Beobe villagers, injuring
Angelo Soares.

The state news agency also reported that an armed
proindependence group, Falintil, tore up an Indonesian flag
hoisted in a public school in Leorema subdistrict, Liquica, on
Saturday.

"Twenty-six Falintil members lowered the flag and then tore it
into two pieces," the news agency reported.(33/prb)