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DATE=6/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-250987
TITLE=INDONESIA / EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:   
INTRO: THE INDONESIAN GOVERNMENT HAS REACTED WITH SURPRISE TO THE
DECISION BY THE UNITED NATIONS TO DELAY THE PLANNED INDEPENDENCE 
REFERENDUM ON EAST TIMOR BY AT LEAST TWO WEEKS. AS PATRICIA NUNAN
REPORTS FROM JAKARTA, THE DECISION COMES AS 70 U-N ELECTION 
COORDINATORS HAVE ARRIVED IN THE DISPUTED TERRITORY TO BEGIN 
PREPARATIONS FOR THAT BALLOT.
TEXT:  FOREIGN MINISTER ALI ALATAS SAYS HE THINKS IT IS  NOT  
NECESSARY TO  DELAY THE REFERENDUM PAST AUGUST EIGHTH -- THE DATE
IT WAS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED.  MR. ALATAS SAYS THE SECURITY 
SITUATION IN EAST TIMOR IS CONDUCIVE TO HOLDING THE REFERENDUM ON
TIME AND HE WANTS THE UNITED NATIONS TO EXPLAIN ITS REASONS FOR 
THE DELAY.
U-N SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN ANNOUNCED TUESDAY THAT THE 
REFERENDUM WOULD BE PUSHED BACK DUE TO SECURITY CONCERNS AND 
LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS.  THE UNITED NATIONS SAYS THE POLL WILL STILL
BE HELD DURING THE MONTH OF AUGUST.
MEANWHILE, 70 U-N ELECTION OFFICIALS ARRIVED IN EAST TIMOR TO 
BEGIN PREPARATIONS FOR THE REFERENDUM.  THEIR IMMEDIATE TASK WILL
BE TO COORDINATE WITH VILLAGE CHIEFS AHEAD OF THE VOTER 
REGISTRATION  PROCESS -- DUE TO BEGIN IN MID-JULY. THE ELECTION 
OFFICIALS WILL BE PART OF A U-N FORCE EXPECTED TO REACH NINE 
HUNDRED PEOPLE.
THE POLL ON EAST TIMOR'S FUTURE STATUS IS INTENDED TO END OVER 
TWO  DECADES OF BLOODSHED IN THE TERRITORY, WHICH BEGAN WHEN THE 
INDONESIAN MILITARY INVADED THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY IN 1975.
RESIDENTS WILL VOTE ON WHETHER TO ACCEPT THE INDONESIAN 
GOVERNMENT PLAN OF WIDE-RANGING AUTONOMY FOR EAST TIMOR. IF THEY 
REJECT THAT PLAN, THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER GRANTING EAST 
TIMOR FULL INDEPENDENCE.
SUPPORTERS OF INDEPENDENCE FOR EAST TIMOR BASED IN JAKARTA HAVE 
REACTED POSITIVELY TO THE NEWS OF THE POSTPONEMENT SAYING THE 
DELAY WILL BRING MORE STABILITY.  BUT THEY WANT THE UNITED 
NATIONS TO ENSURE THAT PRO-INDONESIA CIVILIAN MILITIAS IN EAST 
TIMOR ARE DISARMED BEFORE THE REFERENDUM TAKES PLACE.
CLASHES BETWEEN PRO-INDONESIA MILITIAS AND RIVAL PRO-INDEPENDENCE
GROUPS HAVE INCREASED IN EAST TIMOR SINCE JANUARY, WHEN THE 
JAKARTA GOVERNMENT FIRST ANNOUNCED IT MAY GRANT THE TERRITORY 
INDEPENDENCE LATER THIS YEAR. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/GC/JO/KL
23-Jun-99 7:24 AM EDT (1124 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.