DATE=8/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=INDONESIA-TIMOR (L-O)
NUMBER=2-252605
BYLINE=PATRICIA NUNAN
DATELINE=JAKARTA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The U-N mission in East Timor has set August
14th as the official start of the political campaign
for a special autonomy referendum on whether the
territory should remain with Indonesia, or push for
full independence. As Patricia Nunan reports from
Jakarta, East Timor's opposing factions will be
expected to stick to a strict code of conduct during
the campaign.
TEXT: East Timorese political factions have promised
not to injure, kill or torture anybody because of
their political beliefs. Intimidation is banned.
The 27-point code of conduct signed by East Timor's
pro-independence and pro-integration groups also lays
out more specific guidelines. No weapons can be
brought to campaign rallies and no inflammatory
language should be used. The groups must also stop
campaigning two-days ahead of the ballot, for a --
cooling off -- period.
Leaders from both sides of East Timor's political
divide have expressed concern violence could erupt
during what is expected to be an emotionally-charged
campaign. Human rights officials blame much of the
recent violence on pro-Indonesia militia groups, which
are fighting to keep East Timor a part of Indonesia.
Basilio Araujo is with the East Timor Front -- a pro-
integration group that encompasses the militias. Mr.
Araujo says the militias have been instructed to
refrain from violence, but he says sometimes pro-
independence groups provoke them.
/// Araujo Act ///
And one thing that we asked them to do is
restrain themselves from violence. And we
hope that they will not be provoked, and we
hope if they are provoked, they still can
control themselves.
/// End Act ///
The U-N-supervised autonomy referendum in East Timor
is intended to help bring peace to the disputed
territory, by allowing the people to determine East
Timor's political future. Voters will either accept
or reject an Indonesian government offer of wide-
ranging autonomy for the territory. If they reject
that plan, the Indonesian government says it will
consider granting East Timor full independence.
A low-intensity civil war has been fought in East
Timor since Indonesian troops invaded the former
Portuguese colony in 1975.
Meanwhile, Indonesian opposition leader Megawati
Sukarnoputri is in the East Timorese capital, Dili, to
meet with party supporters. Ms. Megawati is one of
the top candidates for the Indonesian presidency in an
election to be held in November.
Ms. Megawati has said in the past she is against the
idea of East Timor's independence. But she says all
Indonesians are committed to accepting the results of
the autonomy referendum. (SIGNED)
NEB/PN/FC/RAE
09-Aug-1999 07:56 AM EDT (09-Aug-1999 1156 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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