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