---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ++ Pemilu Online: http://www.indo-news.com/pemilu/ ++ ---------------------------------------------------------- Antara, June 22, 1999 UN Should Have Objective Reason For It - Indon Envoy New York, June 22 (ANTARA) - Indonesia wants the direct ballot in East Timor to proceed as scheduled but if the United Nations wants to postpone it, its reasons must be objective and not subjective, an Indonesian envoy has said. "We want (the ballot) on schedule, but let us see the UN secretary general's decision (on it)," Indonesia's Permanent Ambassador to the UN, Makarim Wibisono, said here Monday night (Tuesday morning in Indonesia). Wibisono was commenting on the possible postponement of the ballot that will decide on the future of East Timor, scheduled to be held on August 8. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Wednesday (Thursday in Indonesia) is slated to give information on recent developments regarding the preparations for the ballot, based on reports from the UN Assessment Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) and his special envoy, Jamsheed Marker, who is in Indonesia. Annan is also expected to announce whether the ballot will be held as scheduled or will be postponed. Sources at the UN said the world body will consider its readiness in holding the direct vote - whether or not it could meet its plan on the registration of East Timorese voters as well as the socialization of the concept of the wide-ranging autonomy offered by the Indonesian government. The UN has only four months to do all these since Indonesia and Portugal agreed on the ballot last May 5. "If the reason for the postponement (of the ballot) is that the UNAMET is not yet ready, then (the UN) must admit it. (It should) not say that the (delay is due to) the unsafe situation in East Timor," Wibisono said. "It would be rude to make a subjective reason (sound like) an objective consideration," he added. He said the Indonesian government has been trying its best to ensure the success of the UN mission in East Timor by providing facilities, including offices. "We have also tried to create peace in East Timor and we have so far made progress. But (UNAMET spokesman) David Wimhurst is taking sides. We have filed a protest to the UN about this," he added. Wimhurst, he said, often makes statements which corner the Indonesian government, including that statement urging East Timorese pro-independence figure, Jose Ramos Horta, to come to East Timor to campaign. (U.LNY-01/nn-04/11:16/int-cl/11:30/ri3/13:02/TB03) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 28 Jun 1999 jam 07:43:38 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
