DATE=6/23/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251009
TITLE=U-N / EAST TIMOR VOTE (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY-GENERAL KOFI ANNAN IS POSTPONING
THE VOTE ON EAST TIMOR'S FUTURE, BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT
SECURITY IN THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY. THE MOVE IS BEING
WELCOMED BY SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF INDEPENDENCE FOR THE
TERRITORY. V-O-A'S U-N CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: IN A REPORT TO THE U-N SECURITY COUNCIL, MR. ANNAN SAYS
THE CONSULTATION PROCESS AND THE ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR AUGUST
EIGHTH SHOULD BE POSTPONED WHILE FURTHER MEASURES ARE TAKEN TO
IMPROVE SECURITY CONDITIONS IN EAST TIMOR. U-N SPOKESMAN FRED
ECKHARD:
/// ECKHARD ACT ///
HIS DETERMINATION OF WHETHER CONDITIONS EXIST FOR A FREE
AND FAIR BALLOT WILL ALSO BE POSTPONED FOR THREE WEEKS,
WHILE THE BALLOTING ITSELF, HE SAYS, WILL BE DELAYED FOR
TWO WEEKS. AS REASONS FOR THE THESE CHANGES, THE
SECRETARY-GENERAL CITED BOTH SECURITY CONCERNS AND
LOGISTICAL PROBLEMS.
/// END ACT ///
THE REPORT PUTS MOST OF THE BLAME FOR THE SECURITY PROBLEMS ON
PRO-JAKARTA GROUPS IN EAST TIMOR. IT SAYS THEY APPEAR TO HAVE
BEEN CARRYING OUT ACTS OF VIOLENCE WITH THE ACQUIESCENCE OF
ELEMENTS OF THE INDONESIAN ARMY.
DIPLOMATS AT THE UNITED NATIONS SAY MR. ANNAN'S DECISION TO
POSTPONE THE VOTE, AND HIS REPORT ON EAST TIMOR, ARE INTENDED AS
MESSAGES TO INDONESIA THAT IT MUST DO MORE TO PREVENT VIOLENCE IN
THE TERRITORY.
EAST TIMOR WAS A PORTUGUESE COLONY UNTIL 1975 WHEN IT WAS INVADED
BY INDONESIA. IN MAY, INDONESIA AND PORTUGAL SIGNED A
U-N-BROKERED AGREEMENT THAT ALLOWS EAST TIMOR'S 800-THOUSAND
RESIDENTS TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A FUTURE OF INDEPENDENCE OR AUTONOMY
UNDER INDONESIAN RULE.
SUPPORTERS AND OPPONENTS OF INDEPENDENCE ARE WELCOMING THE U-N
SECRETARY-GENERAL'S DECISION TO POSTPONE THE ELECTION. TIMORESE
RESISTANCE LEADER JOSE RAMOS-HORTA -- A NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER
-- SPOKE TO REPORTERS AT U-N HEADQUARTERS IN NEW YORK.
/// RAMOS-HORTA ACT ///
THE DECISION OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL WAS A WISE ONE AND
ON OUR SIDE WE CAN LIVE WITH IT. OBVIOUSLY, THE EAST
TIMORESE ARE THE FIRST WHO WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE VOTE
THE SOONER THE BETTER. BUT WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE
CONDITIONS CHANGE ON THE GROUND.
/// END ACT ///
MR. RAMOS-HORTA WOULD NOT SAY IF HE PLANS TO VISIT EAST TIMOR
BEFORE THE POLL. BUT HE SAYS HE WILL VISIT JAKARTA SOON FOR A
CONFERENCE ON EAST TIMOR IF INDONESIA GIVES HIM A VISA. MR.
RAMOS-HORTA HAS BEEN BARRED FROM INDONESIA AND EAST TIMOR FOR THE
LAST 24 YEARS.
INDONESIA'S RESPONSE TO MR. ANNAN'S DECISION HAS BEEN MIXED.
FOREIGN MINISTER ALI ALATAS SAYS HE IS CONFIDENT SECURITY
CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE IN TIME FOR THE VOTE TO TAKE PLACE AS
SCHEDULED. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/GM
23-Jun-99 2:33 PM EDT (1833 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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