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DATE=6/22/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250948
TITLE=EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE FIRST CONTINGENT OF UNITED NATIONS CIVILIAN POLICE 
OFFICERS TO ARRIVE IN EAST TIMOR HAS BEEN DEPLOYED ACROSS THE 
TERRITORY TO HELP PREPARE FOR A PLANNED REFERENDUM ON EAST 
TIMOR'S FUTURE STATUS.  BUT AS PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS, THEIR 
MISSION BEGINS AMID GROWING CONCERN THAT THE LONG-AWAITED BALLOT 
WILL BE DELAYED DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS.
TEXT:  FORTY-ONE U-N CIVILIAN POLICE WERE DEPLOYED ON TUESDAY TO 
FOUR CITIES ACROSS EAST TIMOR.  THEIR TASK IS TO HELP LOCAL 
AUTHORITIES COORDINATE THE AUGUST 8TH REFERENDUM.  BUT ALREADY 
THE MISSION IS RUNNING INTO DIFFICULTIES.  VOTER REGISTRATION FOR
EAST TIMOR'S 400-THOUSAND PEOPLE HAS BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF THE 
FEAR OF VIOLENCE. THE U-N'S SPECIAL ENVOY FOR EAST TIMOR, 
JAMSHEED MARKER, IS NOW IN THE TERRITORY TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE
BALLOT CAN BE HELD ON TIME.
THE ARRIVAL OF THE U-N POLICE COMES AS THE HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP 
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ISSUED A STINGING REPORT ON THE SECURITY 
SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR.  AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL ACCUSES THE 
INDONESIAN MILITARY OF BACKING A CAMPAIGN OF TERROR CARRIED OUT 
BY LOCAL MILITIA GROUPS INTENDED TO INTIMIDATE THE LOCAL PEOPLE 
INTO VOTING FOR INTEGRATION WITH INDONESIA.  THE GROUP ALSO SAYS 
THE LACK OF NEUTRALITY BY THE INDONESIAN  ARMED FORCES COULD 
UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMACY OF THE ENTIRE REFERENDUM.
THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED THAT THE MILITARY
IS TAKING SIDES IN EAST TIMOR.
THE REFERENDUM IS INTENDED TO BRING AN END TO OVER TWO DECADES OF
FIGHTING IN EAST TIMOR, WHICH BEGAN WHEN THE INDONESIAN MILITARY 
INVADED THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY IN 1975.   THE EAST TIMORESE
PEOPLE WILL VOTE WHETHER TO ACCEPT A  SPECIAL "AUTONOMY" PLAN 
WHICH WOULD  ALLOW THE TERRITORY SOME SPECIAL RIGHTS WHILE 
OFFICIALLY INTEGRATING IT AS AN INDONESIAN PROVINCE.  IF THE PLAN
IS REJECTED, THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT HAS SAID IT WILL CONSIDER 
GRANTING  EAST TIMOR INDEPENDENCE.
MEANWHILE, EAST TIMORESE INDEPENDENCE LEADERS ARE REFUSING TO LAY
DOWN THEIR WEAPONS UNTIL PRO-INTEGRATION MILITIAS DO THE SAME -- 
DESPITE AN AGREEMENT SIGNED FRIDAY  BY EACH OF THE WARRING 
FACTIONS.  INDEPENDENCE LEADERS NOW SAY THEY EXPECT THE UNITED 
NATIONS TO SUPERVISE DISARMAMENT. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/JO/PLM
22-Jun-99 6:47 AM EDT (1047 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.