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DATE=6/6/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250279
TITLE=EAST TIMOR / PREPARATIONS / L-O
BYLINE=JENNY GRANT
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDONESIAN POLICE HAVE TAKEN OVER SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS 
IN EAST TIMOR, IN ADVANCE OF A BALLOT ON THE TERRITORY'S FUTURE 
IN AUGUST.  FROM JAKARTA, JENNY GRANT REPORTS EAST TIMORESE WILL 
ALSO VOTE IN INDONESIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS, MONDAY.
TEXT:  MORE THAN 450 MOBILE POLICE HAVE ARRIVED IN EAST TIMOR, TO
ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR SECURITY IN THE TROUBLED TERRITORY.
AT THE SAME TIME, 15 HUNDRED COMBAT TROOPS HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWN 
FROM EAST TIMOR.  THE MILITARY HAS STEPPED DOWN AS THE CHIEF 
SECURITY BODY IN THE TERRITORY.
EAST TIMOR POLICE CHIEF COLONEL TIMBUL SILAEN SAYS THE LARGER 
POLICE PRESENCE MUST ENFORCE SECURITY, DISARM THE CONFLICTING 
PARTIES AND PROTECT THE UNITED NATIONS MISSION.
EAST TIMOR -- A FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY -- HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY 
ARMED CONFLICT BETWEEN TIMORESE SEEKING INDEPENDENCE AND 
RESIDENTS WHO PREFER CONTINUED RULE BY INDONESIA.
THE MISSION -- KNOWN AS UNAMET -- OFFICIALLY RAISED ITS FLAG IN 
EAST TIMOR LAST WEEK.  UNAMET WILL ORGANIZE THE BALLOT ON AUGUST 
EIGHTH, WHEN EAST TIMORESE WILL CHOOSE WHETHER THEY WANT TO 
ACCEPT A SPECIAL AUTONOMY PROPOSAL FROM INDONESIA.
IF THEY REJECT THE PROPOSAL, PRESIDENT HABIBIE HAS SAID THE 
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY WILL VOTE TO GIVE EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE.
ANOTHER FOUR THOUSAND POLICE ARE TO ARRIVE IN THE COMING WEEKS, 
TO SECURE THE TERRITORY.
THE UNITED NATIONS PLANS TO SEND 280 SENIOR POLICE OFFICES TO 
ADVISE THE INDONESIAN FORCE.  THE U-N POLICE WILL BE UNARMED.
MEANWHILE, VOTING STATIONS ARE SET UP ACROSS EAST TIMOR FOR THE 
HALF-MILLION EAST TIMORESE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE TO CAST THEIR VOTE IN
MONDAY'S GENERAL ELECTION.  FOUR EAST TIMORESE WILL SIT IN THE 
500-MEMBER NATIONAL PARLIAMENT.
THE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL ELECTION COMMISSION SAYS THE GENERAL 
ELECTION WILL GO AHEAD IN EAST TIMOR, DESPITE SPORADIC VIOLENCE.
PRO-INDEPENDENCE FIGURES HAVE URGED EAST TIMORESE TO BOYCOTT THE 
GENERAL ELECTION, SAYING THE ONLY VALID VOTE THIS YEAR IS THE 
AUGUST REFERENDUM.
EAST TIMOR'S NOBEL PRIZE-WINNING BISHOP, CARLOS BELO, HAS URGED 
EAST TIMORESE TO VOTE MONDAY.  HE SAYS EAST TIMORESE SHOULD 
CHOOSE CANDIDATES WHO ARE FREE FROM CORRUPTION AND COLLUSION.  
(SIGNED)
NEB / WD / WD
06-Jun-99 1:19 AM EDT (0519 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.