---------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- also: Ramos-Horta asks West to pressure Indonesia to rein in Timor militias UN refugee agency launches aid program for Timor GENEVA, July 27 (AFP) - The Indonesian government has asked the UN refugee agency to help some 60,000 refugees and displaced people on the island of Timor prior to an August vote on independence, the agency said Tuesday. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has sent four representatives to the island, three to East Timor where they will open a bureau in Dili, and one to the western part, spokesman Kris Janowsky said. Of the 60,000 refugees or internally displaced people (IDP), 10,000 have sought refuge in western Timor, following clashes between those in favor of and those opposed to independence for the island. "These people lack food, medicine, blankets, everything," Janowsky stressed, adding the UNHCR estimated 450,000 dollars (429,000 euros) were needed for the program. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday asked Indonesian authorities to improve security conditions on Timor, where voters are to decide August 21 and 22 on their future. The former Portugese colony, which Jakarta invaded in 1975 and annexed a year later, is to choose between independence and autonomy under Indonesian control. The vote will be monitored by several hundred civilians and policemen acting under a UN mandate. -------------------- Ramos-Horta asks West to pressure Indonesia to rein in Timor militias MANILA, July 27 (AFP) - East Timor independence leader Jose Ramos-Horta urged the West on Tuesday to apply pressure to Indonesia to rein in pro-integration militias in East Timor to allow for the territory to vote freely on its future. "Without these actions that would serve as deterrence and warning to Indonesia, I doubt very much that there will be a free and democratic ballot in East Timor," he told a news conference on the fourth day of his Philippine visit. The United Nations is overseeing the registration of voters in East Timor for a referendum, originally scheduled in August, on whether the territory will opt for autonomy under Indonesia. Ramos-Horta, a Nobel peace prize laureate, accused Jakarta of waging "this dirty war" by the pro-Indonesian militias, which have been accused of being behind the violence which has disrupted preparations for the vote which could lead to the former Portuguese territory's independence. He said the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and donor countries should "freeze all financial assistance to Indonesia for three to six months until they disengage from East Timor." Earlier Tuesday, Ramos-Horta backed a UN decision to pursue registrations ahead of the vote even though the date of the poll remained unclear. "I agree entirely with the decision of the (UN) secretary-general to refuse to make the final decision on the date of the ballot precisely because of the existing security conditions," he told reporters. He reiterated his earlier charges that Indonesia was not complying with its commitment to disarm the pro-integrationist militias whose attacks have disrupted voter registration. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan earlier said preparations would continue for the self-determination vote in the former Portuguese territory that was invaded by Indonesia in 1975. "The decision of the secretary general to continue with the voter registration but declining to announce a final definite date of the vote ... is certainly the wisest one," Ramos-Horta added. He expressed his confidence in the United Nations but warned that if Indonesia succeeded in derailing the consultation process, "we will fight back with increased determination and creativity and Indonesia will pay dearly." Meanwhile, Ramos-Horta said it would be in the best interest of the East Timorese if Indonesian President BJ Habibie retained his post when that country's national assembly chooses the next president later this year. "I would say that BJ Habibie and Amien Rais will be the best possible team as far as East Timor is concerned," he said, referring to opposition leader Rais who he prefers to become vice president. The East Timor campaigner said that opposition leader Megawati Sukarnoputri, whose party garnered the most number of seats in last month's elections, has publicly stated before that she would oppose independence for East Timor. "If Megawati emerges as president, would she follow through with her threats?" he said. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 27 Jul 1999 jam 19:11:24 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
