Asia Times: Tricky road to poll and beyond



	July 13, 1999	atimes.com

Southeast Asia

Tricky road to poll and beyond
By Kafil Yamin

JAKARTA - Just days after East Timorese leaders for and against independence from Indonesia exchanged diplomatic smiles and handshakes last week, their followers on the ground traded gunfire again. This seems to highlight, all too clearly, East Timor's delicate balance these days.

Twenty-three years after its annexation, the territory finally has the chance to choose its own future in a vote expected around August 21 or 22. But the violence that has erupted with the prospect of that choice also dims the chances of a fair vote, especially if large segments of the population feel unable to freely exercise their right or vote the way they want to.

Since the Indonesian government said it will allow East Timor to vote on its future, violence between armed groups for and against independence has broken out. Often civilians believed to be pro-independence have been harassed, or worse, attacked.

And since the United Nations sent a security presence under a May agreement it brokered with Indonesia and former East Timor colonial power Portugal, violence has been targeted against UN personnel as well. There are some 300 unarmed UN police advisors and military liaison people in East Timor, apart from some 600 polling officials and monitors to assure a successful vote next month. The attacks have continued despite several pledges by East Timor's rival groups to keep the peace.

The most recent meeting was held on June 28-30 in Jakarta, in a conference held among 60 representatives from East Timor's rival factions. Its key achievement was an agreement to respect a June 18 agreement on the disarmament of both pro-Jakarta militias and Falintil, armed wing of the pro-independence East Timor Resistance Council.

In the meeting were jailed Fretilin leader Jose Alexandre Xanana Gusmao, Nobel co-laureate Jose Ramos Horta and pro-integration figures Lopez da Cruz and Domingo Soares, whoexchanged greetings, smiles and handshakes. The June 28 agreement was organized by the Peace and Stability Commission, a body set up in a military-brokered peace deal in East Timor's capital of Dili on April 21.

But just a week after the peace talks, a number of armed militia attacked a United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) post in Maliana, leaving a staff member injured. On July 4, a convoy of UNAMET personnel and local activists was attacked by members of pro-Jakarta Besi Merah Putih militia after it handed over humanitarian aid to local refugees in Liquica district.

After that, the pro-integration Forum for Unity, Peace and Justice (FPDK) threatened to boycott the August direct ballot if UNAMET remained ''biased.'' Citing the latest incident in Liquica regency, FPDK said UNAMET had no right to conduct humanitarian activities, but which the mission denied this and said it would not be intimidated. The FPDK also accused the UN mission of recruiting pro-independence fighters and provoking clashes.

In talks with Defense chief Wiranto, UNAMET chief Ian Martin conveyed the mission's concern about attacks on UN personnel. Wiranto gave ''assurances'' of better security, mainly by promising to send in 1,200 additional Indonesian policemen to replace army troops.

There was no mention of disarmament of the militias accused of responsibility for the attacks, though Martin earlier noted that in seven incidents such attacks had occurred ''not far'' from police and military outposts.

The spate of violence has created new doubts about the August vote, which has already been postponed once, and raised fears about another postponement or outright cancellation. ''Observing the nice atmosphere of the reconciliation talks [last week], we have reason to be big-hearted about the situation,'' said a political observer in Jakarta. ''Given the unprecedented array of the top political and militia leaders from both sides at the meeting, I would say they have made a considerable achievement."

''But I found I was wrong after I watched what really happened,'' he added.

Under the tripartite accord between Indonesia, Portugal and the United Nations in New York on May 5, no peacekeeping forces will be sent to the territory and security is the responsibility of the Indonesian police. On July 6, Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas reiterated there was no way UN peacekeeping forces would come to East Timor. ''I assert there will never be one,'' he said, adding that UN personnel would only comprise police to supervise the balloting.

Despite various disruptions to the ballot preparations, many believe that the August vote will take place, but wonder what will happen next. ''Now everybody says they are willing to accept whatever the result of the ballot is,'' said Daniel Harryson, project development officer of Care International Indonesia. ''But what will happen after the UN leaves the territory, and Indonesian administration pulls out? Hopefully they [rival groups] will not dig out their buried hatchets,'' Harryson added. ''The loser of the upcoming ballot can accept the result for quite some time, but they will not stay wise forever. They will pick up their guns and start fighting again,'' he warned.

Now, with just weeks before the vote, a stream of high-level visitors are expected to flock to the territory. A team of ministers, including Alatas, Coordinating Minister for Political Affairs Feisal Tanjung, Justice Minister Muladi, Home Minister Syarwan Hamid and Wiranto, is expected to arrive in Dili on Monday. Muslim leader Abdurrahman Wahid will hold talks next week with East Timor figures to help achieve reconciliation. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Stanley Roth is due to leave Washington for Jakarta Friday for talks on East Timor.

Still, violence continues. The latest incident took place on Tuesday, when a soldier's wife was kidnapped by 20 members of Falintil. The incident took place in Watula village in theVenilale district of Baucau, some 180 kilometers east of Dili.

For many residents, the prospect of more violence and bloodshed in the poll is no longer worth staying on for. At least 2,000 Indonesian teachers assigned in East Timor have reportedly fled and Timorese refugees continue to flee across the province border in search of safety. In late June, the Australian Council for Overseas Aid said up to 50,000 people or at least 5 percent of East Timor's population of 800,000 had become refugees. ''Many homes and schools are deserted,'' said Isabela Ferreira, a local activist with the Commission for Victims of Violence and Missing Persons.

(Inter Press Service)

back to the top

©1999 Asia Times Online Co., Ltd.

Southeast Asia Sex News | Asian Sex Gazette