---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Ramos-Horta backs delay in East Timor ballot MANILA, July 24 (AFP) - Exiled East Timorese independence activist Jose Ramos-Horta said he would support any United Nations move to postpone a referendum on independence in view of concerns about security. He told reporters on arrival for a four-day visit to the Philippines that "if the (UN) secretary-general decides to postpone (the referendum), I understand the reasons. "If the conditions do not change in the next few day... the UN will have no choice but to postpone (the referendum) again," Ramos-Horta said, adding, "the Indonesian government has failed its part of the agreement which is to provide security to the ballot." The East Timorese are to decide in the vote set for August 21 or 22 whether they accept an offer of autonomy under Indonesian rule or opt for independence. However Ramos-Horta said the people of East Timor "continue to be intimidated and terrorized", and that there were about 80,000 internal refugees in the region, of whom 95 percent were Roman Catholic. The Nobel Peace Prize-winner said the Indonesian government had not withdrawn its troops or disarmed pro-integrationist militia groups as it had earlier agreed to do. He accused Jakarta of bringing in outsiders to manipulate the vote. He praised the UN's monitoring of the situation, saying "I have learned over the last two weeks to trust their assessment of the situation. The UN mission in East Timor has shown itself to be one of tremendous integrity, impartiality and courage." The activist said he was confident the majority of East Timorese would vote for independence despite the threat of greater economic hardship that might result. However Ramos-Horta warned that "if the secretary-general of the UN determines that the (voting) process has been a fraud, a failure, because of violence, then it would be up to the UN security council to suggest new steps." This could include sending "police from the UN to intervene in East Timor," he said. He reiterated his wish to return to East Timor before the vote, saying it would be "a test of the democratic process." He voiced the hope that during his Philippines visit, he could rally support for allowing him and jailed East Timor independence fighter Xanana Gusmao to go home. UN chief Kofi Annan said Wednesday that he remained concerned about security ahead of the ballot in East Timor because of harrassment of pro-independence groups and UN personnel. He warned that unless appropriate security conditions are in place, he may scrap the vote or further postpone the referendum originally set for August 8. Indonesia annexed the former Portuguese colony in 1976 in a move never recognised by the United Nations. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 24 Jul 1999 jam 20:12:53 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
