Indonesia Sets E.Timor Vote for July
March 16, 1999 - 0:0
JAKARTA Indonesia said on Monday it would let East Timorese vote in July on whether to accept Jakarta's offer of wide-ranging autonomy. Because we are going to hold an election on June 7 therefore we can only hold it in July, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas told reporters. In talks last week at the United Nations, Indonesia and Portugal agreed that East Timorese should be allowed to determine the future of their bloodied homeland through a direct ballot.
Indonesian President B.J Habibie has said that if East Timor rejects autonomy, it could be offered independence as early as next year. The date of the direct ballot would be subject to agreement with the United Nations. The result of the ballot, whatever it is, will be reported to President Habibie during the MPR's general session scheduled for late August, Alatas said, referring to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Indonesia's highest legislative body.
Indonesia plans to hold nationwide elections on June 7, the first democratic poll in the country for more than 40 years. In January, Jakarta made a dramatic about-face after refusing to consider independence for the former Portuguese colony for two decades. Indonesia invaded East Timor and annexed it the following year in a move never recognised by the United Nations. Alatas said on Monday that the vote on East Timor would be conducted by teams under the United Nations assigned to visit all areas in East Timor as well as East Timorese who live abroad.
The ballot will be conducted all at once and the techniques and details are still being analysed, Alatas said. Indonesia expects to finish work on its autonomy proposals by late April. Tension has intensified following Jakarta's change of mind. Fighting between armed bands of pro- and anti-Jakarta groups has increased. The official news agency Antara reported on Monday that representatives of both sides, including jailed pro-independence guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao, are expected to meet this week.
Last week Gusmao met Joao Da Silva Tavares, the leader of pro-Jakarta militias in the territory. The two men agreed to discuss East Timor's future in peace.
Indonesian President B.J Habibie has said that if East Timor rejects autonomy, it could be offered independence as early as next year. The date of the direct ballot would be subject to agreement with the United Nations. The result of the ballot, whatever it is, will be reported to President Habibie during the MPR's general session scheduled for late August, Alatas said, referring to the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR), Indonesia's highest legislative body.
Indonesia plans to hold nationwide elections on June 7, the first democratic poll in the country for more than 40 years. In January, Jakarta made a dramatic about-face after refusing to consider independence for the former Portuguese colony for two decades. Indonesia invaded East Timor and annexed it the following year in a move never recognised by the United Nations. Alatas said on Monday that the vote on East Timor would be conducted by teams under the United Nations assigned to visit all areas in East Timor as well as East Timorese who live abroad.
The ballot will be conducted all at once and the techniques and details are still being analysed, Alatas said. Indonesia expects to finish work on its autonomy proposals by late April. Tension has intensified following Jakarta's change of mind. Fighting between armed bands of pro- and anti-Jakarta groups has increased. The official news agency Antara reported on Monday that representatives of both sides, including jailed pro-independence guerrilla leader Xanana Gusmao, are expected to meet this week.
Last week Gusmao met Joao Da Silva Tavares, the leader of pro-Jakarta militias in the territory. The two men agreed to discuss East Timor's future in peace.