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DATE=7/12/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251660
TITLE=EAST TIMOR SECURITY (L-O)
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  INDONESIAN CABINET OFFICIALS VISITED THE DISPUTED 
TERRITORY OF EAST TIMOR (MONDAY), TO SEE FIRSTHAND THE SECURITY 
SITUATION BEFORE THE U-N SUPERVISED AUTONOMY REFERENDUM PLANNED 
FOR AUGUST.  AS PATRICIA NUNAN REPORTS FROM JAKARTA, THE 
OFFICIALS SAY THERE IS NO REASON WHY THE AUTONOMY REFERENDUM 
CANNOT BE HELD ON TIME.
TEXT:  FOREIGN MINISTER ALI ALATAS LED 15 MINISTERS ON A ONE-DAY 
VISIT TO EAST TIMOR.  MR. ALATAS SAYS THE SECURITY SITUATION IN 
EAST TIMOR IS CONTINUALLY IMPROVING AND HE SEES NO REASON FOR THE
BALLOT TO BE DELAYED.
U-N OFFICIALS ARE LESS CERTAIN.  THEY CALLED FOR THE GOVERNMENT 
DELEGATION TO ORDER A POLICE CRACKDOWN ON PRO-INDONESIA MILITIA 
GROUPS WHICH HAVE REPEATEDLY ATTACKED OR THREATENED U-N OFFICIALS
IN THE TERRITORY.  THE OFFICIALS SAY POLICE HAVE FAILED TO 
PROTECT U-N WORKERS FROM THE MILITIAS THAT ARE FIGHTING TO KEEP 
EAST TIMOR A PART OF INDONESIA.
HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS SAY SCORES OF EAST TIMORESE CIVILIANS HAVE 
BEEN KILLED BY THE MILITIAS IN THE PAST SIX-MONTHS.  THE VIOLENCE
HAS FORCED THE UNITED NATIONS TO DELAY THE AUTONOMY REFERENDUM BY
TWO-WEEKS.  VOTER REGISTRATION HAS ALSO BEEN DELAYED. 
U-N OFFICIALS SAY IF THE SECURITY SITUATION DOES NOT IMPROVE 
VOTER REGISTRATION WILL NOT START FRIDAY.  IF THAT HAPPENS, 
OFFICIALS SAY THE AUTONOMY REFERENDUM -- PLANNED FOR THE THIRD 
WEEK IN AUGUST -- WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE POSTPONED AGAIN.
INDONESIAN ARMED FORCES CHIEF, GENERAL WIRANTO REPEATED THE 
GOVERNMENT'S PLEDGE TO ENSURE SECURITY BEFORE THE VOTE.  
INDONESIAN AUTHORITIES INSISTED THEY BE IN CHARGE OF SECURITY FOR
THE AUTONOMY REFERENDUM WHEN THEY SIGNED A PEACE DEAL WITH THE 
UNITED NATIONS AND PORTUGAL IN MAY
THE U-N SUPERVISED REFERENDUM IS INTENDED TO BRING AN END TO 
TWO-DECADES OF FIGHTING IN EAST TIMOR, BY ASKING THE PEOPLE TO 
CHOOSE WHETHER THE TERRITORY SHOULD OFFICIALLY INTEGRATE WITH 
INDONESIA.  IF THEY REJECT THAT IDEA, EAST TIMOR WILL MOVE 
TOWARDS BECOMING AN INDEPENDENT NATION.
FIGHTING BEGAN IN THE TERRITORY IN 1975, WHEN INDONESIAN TROOPS 
INVADED THE FORMER PORTUGUESE COLONY.   (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/RAE
12-Jul-99 8:50 AM EDT (1250 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.