UNAMET take sides

UNAMET take sides

From Media Indonesia

The East Timor community is awaiting the referendum on Aug. 30
with trepidation. The rather complex registration process is
taking place from July 16 to Aug. 4. As a UN institution playing
a major role in arranging the referendum, the UN Mission in East
Timor (UNAMET) has increasingly shown that it takes sides in
favor of the proindependence group. This can be seen from the
great number of its personnel recruited from the proindependence
group, including those for registration.

In Bobonaro, Maliana, the UNAMET staff openly practiced
discrimination in the registration process. The prointegration
community met with difficulties while the proindependence group
who did not have adequate documentation were allowed to register.
It is even more tragic that the UNAMET staff from Australia
willfully fly the Australian flag. In Liquica, the red and white
flag was torn down by the proindependence group.

UNAMET's bias has strengthened the suspicion that it has been
used by foreign sides (Australia) to conform to the latter's
political vision. It is understandable because Australia has its
own interest in East Timor, especially in the context of the huge
Timor Gap project. The bias among foreigners acting through
UNAMET needs watching, especially on the day of the referendum.

The Indonesian government must continue its monitoring of the
situation, because the proindependence group also criticizes and
intimidates the prointegration group, who are campaigning in
favor of extended autonomy. Besides, the proindependence group is
accusing the Indonesian military (TNI) of being behind the
prointegration group.

As a citizen of East Timor who wishes to see the province to
remain part of Indonesia, I think UNAMET's attitude is strongly
detrimental to us. The RI government should promptly eliminate
UNAMET's influence in order that the referendum will take place
safely.

FLORENCA DOS SANTOS

Dili, East Timor