Precedence: bulk A QUICK REPORT FROM THE UN The three agreements were signed today by the Secretary-General, Jaime Gama (Foreign Minister of Portugal) and Ali Alatas (FM of Indonesia). They are a broad one on the overall process with the Indonesia's autonomy plan annexed. One page on security. And 5 pages on the modalities for the consultation. We hope to have the texts out on the e-mail soon. The overall agreement cites the main UN decolonization resolutions and Security Council and General Assembly resolutions on E Timor. The UN will conduct the a "direct, secret and universal" ballot. A UN mission will be established. All three documents stress that Indonesia will be responsible for "maintaining peace and security." The UN will report the results of the vote to the Security Council and General Assembly. If autonomy wins, Indonesia pledges to make the changes necessary to implement it and Portugal will take steps to take E Timor off the UN agenda. If autonomy is defeated, Indonesia will "take the constitutional steps necessary to terminate its links with East Timor" and a "peaceful and orderly transfer" to UN authority will take place. The Secretary-General will then begin a "process of transition to independence." The UN will remain in East Timor in any interim period after the vote and implementation of the result. The ballot questions make clear that rejecting autonomy will lead "to East Timor's separation from Indonesi." The consultation will take place on August 8 only. Persons 17 or over, born in East Timor or born outside of at least one person born in ET or spouses of those born inside can vote. Polling and registration places will be set up in ET, a half dozen Indonesian cities, several in Australia, Macau, Lisbon, Maputo and New York at a minimum. A schedule is laid out for the UN operation. The UN will "regulate" international observers. Portugal will be allowed observers as well. No numbers are given for UN electoral personnel or the police advisors (Annan stressed that they will be unarmed). Funding will come from volunteer contributions and Portugal donated $10 million to start. The Security Agreement is the weakest. It reiterates Indonesia's responsibility to maintain law and order. It calls for the "absolute neutrality" of the military and police. The Indonesian police will be solely responsible for law and order, the UN will provide civilian police advisors. It says the Commission on Peace and Stability (established in Dili 21 April) will develop a code of conduct for the campaign. The SG must certify that the "necessary security situation exits" for a peaceful consultation. There is apparently a separate agreement which goes further on security which has yet to be fully worked out and may be released in the next few days. >From the press conference: Alatas was more subdued that usual. Gama spoke more than in the past. Gama quoted Xanana that this is a major turning point for East Timor. All are expected to abide by the spirit and letter of the agreement. He stressed the need for peace and security for an uncoerced vote to take place. All sides must abide by the agreements. UN credibility is at stake. Alatas claimed that the laying down of arms (not disarmament) and cessation of hostilities has been achieved. Disarmament is possible (and must involve Falintil as well) but may not be necessary if peace prevails. When questioned repeatedly how Indonesia could remain in charge of security as a party to the conflict, the SG said there was no choice. "What would you have us do?" he asked several times. The UN needs the cooperation of the existing authority in a territory to carry out a vote. Marker said the UN will be working with Indonesia on disarmament, but maintenance of law and order was the highest priority. People of E Timor have had enough of conflict and the UN will provide assurance of impartiality. Xanana's release was not in the agreement. The SG said he hoped it would come "sooner rather than later." Gama stressed this was an agreement binding states and not just governments and that he expected that these agreements will be carried out regardless of the Indonesian election. Gama also said the ballot result would be reported for the whole country and not district by district and binds the whole territory regardless of regional differences in the voting. Alatas said Habibie's list of countries was just a suggestion. Final decisions rest with the SG on which nations and personnel will be involved. It is up to the SG to decide. Marker said a budget needs to be worked out before more donor countries are approached, but several have made offers of help.*** ---------- SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html
