A delegation of 16 Indonesian senior ministers has paid a one-day visit to East Timor in an attempt to reassure UN organisers of an autonomy/independence referendum that the security problems on the half-island would be dealt with. However, no concrete measures to curb pro-Jakarta militia violence were made public during a ministerial press conference yesterday.
The Minister for Information, Mr Yunus Yosfiah, later told civil servants that East Timorese working for the Indonesian government should be fired if they were pro-independence.
Among the the delegation were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Ali Alatas, and the Defence Minister, Gen Wiranto. They met local authorities and the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET).
Explaining the visit of this unprecedentedly large delegation, Mr Alatas said: "It shows our government's determination, our sincerity and our seriousness to really implement what we have agreed to do on the basis of the New York agreement." The visit was an answer to the concerns expressed last week by UNAMET-head, Mr Ian Martin, in Jakarta about the security problems in East Timor after threats and attacks to UN personnel in several towns. Nevertheless Mr Alatas said the security situation "is continuously improving. There are still some sporadic events that should not have happened." He said the culprits of the latest attacks "are being investigated. We are getting to the bottom of it as the UN would like us to do and as our own laws tell us to do." He announced "other measures" without specifying them.
Because of the security situation, the UN decided to postpone the start of registration for the ballot by three days to Friday, when the UN Security Council will decide whether conditions exist for a free and fair vote.
Mr Alatas said: "We welcome this three-day decision because one way or another it will not affect the holding of the actual balloting." He acknowledged it had not yet been determined whether the popular consultation will be held the August 21st (Saturday) or August 22nd (Sunday). UN sources said they prefer Sunday as it would encourage people to vote after they went to church.
Mr Alatas also made clear that Dr Jose Ramos Horta, ambassador of the Timorese resistance, "is going to vote abroad . . . I think he realises that apart from many friends he obviously has also lot of enemies, who would maybe cause a security breach."
Mr Alatas said Mr Xanana Gusmao, under house arrest in Jakarta, would be able to participate in the "freest manner possible . . . there is no reason to assume there will be hindrances or obstacles put in the way of the people who are in favour of rejecting the autonomy to participate in the ballot."
Gen Wiranto said the Indonesian military was working with the police to bring peace to East Timor but walked away as he was asked whether the military supported pro-Jakarta militia gangs, said ABC television, Australia.
Mr Yosfiah was quoted by the state Antara news agency as saying: "If a civil servant from the provincial ministry is pro-independence . . . that person should be terminated from the civil service . . . Don't demand rupiah [an Indonesian salary] if you are pro-independence . . . How can it be possible to be pro-independence and keep feeding yourself on an Indonesian salary?"
Mr Yosfiah, a one-time military commander in East Timor, also urged his staff to remain "neutral".
The planned referendum on the future of the former Portuguese colony of East Timor must not be a farce, the Portuguese Prime Minister, Mr Antonio Guterres, has said.