Youths ready to safeguard polls

DILI, East Timor: Thousands of local youths yesterday pledged to ensure a smooth general election in May and the general assembly of the People's Consultative Assembly next year.

The youths, members of the Indonesian National Youth Committee, said in a ceremony attended by Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares and other officials that they are ready to safeguard the election.

Chairman of the East Timor chapter of the Committee Agustino Goncalves said the youths "will support the Armed Forces' legal action to deal with those seeking to foil the election and the general assembly".

They also called for fair competition among the three political contestants: the United Development Party, Golkar and the Indonesian Democratic Party. (33/swe)