---------------------------------------------------------- FREE for JOIN Indonesia Daily News Online via EMAIL: go to: http://www.indo-news.com/subscribe.html - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - FREE - Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Antara, 18 Juli 1999 Security Conditions Improved, Says US Official Dili, E Timor, Jul 17, (ANTARA) - Although there were some security disturbances and instances of intimidation by militias, voter registration for the direct ballot in East Timor has started amid improved security conditions, a visiting US government official said. US Deputy Secretary of State for Asia Pacific affairs Stanley Roth made the statement to the press here Saturday after a meeting with East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares. On Friday (Jul 16) Roth visited a few places in the districts of Bobonaro and Covalima to observe voter registration activities which were officially begun on that day. He was accompanied by US Ambassador to Indonesia Stapleton Roy, UNAMET chief Iam Martin, UNAMET civilian police Chief Allan Mils. Roth said the registration process generally seemed to have started in peaceful conditions but stressed that the local administrations and communities needed to make additional efforts to safeguard security. According to Expedito Diaz Ximenes, chief information officer of the East Timor provincial administration, Roth had told Soares that the situation in East Timor in general was already conducive for the holding of the UN-sponsored plebiscite scheduled for either Aug 21 or 22. In Roth's view, the security situation had improved despite the difficult conditions, in fact, conditions had lately become encouraging, Ximenes said. Meanwhile UNAMET's official spokesman David Wimhurst said thousands of eligible East Timorese voters came to registration centers on the first day of registration period which is open from July 16 to August4. But Wimhurst did not mention the exact number of the eligible voters. However, the registration process in three places, namely Zumalai, Baucau and Alas had to be postponed due to unfavourable conditions and lack of transportation. (U.Dli02/Dli03/Dli-Pk01/Kpf01/Nd08/PTU05/NN02/14:30/ INT-AJM-16:43/nn-03/TB02) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 21 Jul 1999 jam 05:34:08 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
