---------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- August 30, 1999 US State Department Welcomes E. Timor Referendum WASHINGTON (AP)--The U.S. State Department Monday welcomed the U.N.-sponsored referendum in East Timor. Spokesman James Foley said reports from a variety of sources indicated the vote was a success. "The United States welcomes this successful vote, noting that it is a very important step in the U.N.-administered transition of East Timor to a new status," he said. U.N. officials estimated that more than 90% of 451,000 registered voters, including 13,000 overseas, cast ballots despite a prolonged terror campaign by anti-independence militias to scare them away from the polls or into voting to remain ----------- August 30, 1999 East Timor Votes On Independence; Annan Comment DILI, Indonesia (AP)--Despite the murder of a U.N. staff member and other sporadic acts of violence, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said over 90% of East Timor's registered voters cast ballots Monday "in a calm and dignified manner." "On the whole, polling proceeded smoothly, a testament to the determination and patience of the voters, despite some intimidation by militias outside some polling stations," he said in a statement. As violence by pro-Indonesian militias escalated in the run-up to voting, there were fears that the ballot would be disrupted. But there were only incidents at seven of 200 polling centers, which caused temporary closures for periods of between 30 minutes and three hours, U.N. deputy spokesman Manoel de Almeida e Silva said. With last reports still coming in to the U.N. Mission in East Timor, which supervised the ballot, Annan said "it is clear that the turnout has been extraordinary." The United Nations says it will need seven days to count and verify votes. Optimistic independence supporters predicted that the enormous turnout meant success for their cause, allowing East Timor to break completely with Indonesia. "We are convinced that we have won because our people have suffered under Indonesia," said Leandro Isaac, a prominent independence leader. But Indonesia's justice minister accused the U.N. election team of bias, calling the members "people who take sides with the pro-independence faction." "If it is true that there was intimidation and coercion, the vote should be repeated," Justice Minister Muladi told the national news agency Antara, referring to allegations that U.N. officials intimidated voters into casting their ballots for independence. Muladi, like many Indonesians, uses only one name. U.N. officials have consistently pledged their neutrality. A local member of the U.N. team supervising the referendum was killed on his way home from a polling station, U.N. officials said in New York. Joel Lopez Gomes was stabbed outside the polling station in Atsabe, in Ermera province, after voting ended, the U.N. spokesman's office added. In Dili, U.N. officials said two other local staffers were wounded in the same area of the territory, but provided no further details. Despite fears that many people would be too scared to vote, long lines formed outside polling centers. In many towns, enthusiastic voters scuffled to be the first to cast their ballots. But in Liquica, about 25 kilometers west of Dili, frightened villagers accused militiamen of threatening to burn their homes if they voted to break away from Indonesia, which invaded in 1975. Guerrillas who have fought Indonesian troops for more than two decades walkeacks by anti-independence militias stood guard, along with unarmed U.N. police advisers. Indonesia invaded East Timor nearly a quarter-century ago, after Portugal ended a reign of nearly 400 years. Human rights groups claim 200,000 people have died in the ensuing violence. More than 451,000 voters, including 13,000 East Timorese living abroad, registered for the ballot. They were asked if their impoverished, mainly Roman Catholic homeland should stay part of Muslim-dominated Indonesia as an autonomous region or break away completely. Anti-independence militiamen, accused of killing and terrorizing civilians to slash support for independence, said they would abide by the result that is to be announced by Sept. 7. Dozens of people have been killed this year. An estimated 60,000 have fled their homes in fear. Many traveled back to their shattered villages to cast votes. There is overwhelming evidence that the Indonesian military has backed the pro-Jakarta militias, though the government has consistently denied it. The armed forces have been reluctant to give up their hold on East Timor after nearly a quarter-century of a strong presence there. The polls closed at 4 p.m., giving terrified residents time to hurry home before nightfall in case of a new round of militia attacks. Sensing the overwhelming support for independence, a soft-spoken President B.J. Habibie went on national television Sunday night to appeal to East Timor's voters to remain a part of this sprawling nation of 210 million. Separatist leader Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao called for a big turnout, then received a hero's welcome when he voted at the U.N. polling station in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, where he is under house arrest. A large crowd clapped and cheered when Timor's spiritual leader and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Bishop Carlos Belo, voted at a Dili schoolhouse. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 1 Sep 1999 jam 02:20:24 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
