---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Indonesian military under fire for trying to sabotage Timor vote JAKARTA, Aug 11 (AFP) - The Indonesian military came under blistering attack Wednesday accused of arming pro-Indonesia militias in East Timor ahead of a landmark vote on the territory's future. Former US president Jimmy Carter charged the Indonesian military was "supporting, directing and arming" pro-Indonesia militias, who have been blamed for much of the violence in the former Portuguese colony. His words were echoed by pro-independence crusader Ramos Horta, who claimed in Australia that the Indonesian military (TNI) were shipping "thousands" of weapons into the territory to create havoc. "Some top representatives of the government of Indonesia have failed to fulfill their main obligations with respect to public order and security," Carter said in a press statement issued in the East Timorese capital of Dili. "In many cases (they) have actively sought to undermine the popular consultation process," he said, without giving names. "The Carter Center believes that it is within the power of the Indonesian government to create the conditions necessary for a free, open and democratic consultation in East Timor. "However, failure to immediately redeploy TNI troops, bring pro-integration militias under control, and establish law and order in East Timor may jeopardize the entire consultation process," he said. In his statement Ramos Horta said: "Thousands of guns are being distributed by the Indonesian armed forces who continue to violate every word of every agreement. "Bloodshed is almost inevitable. The army are preparing Timor for full scale violence," he told the SBS radio. The 1996 Noble Peace laureate said evidence was everywhere, and urged the international community to ready troops to land there. "If there are hundreds of troops ready to land in Timor at a moment's notice, it will act as a deterrant," he said. "If Indonesia thinks it is only a smokescreen, the army will launch full scale bloodshed." Meanwhile the US embassy here issued a formal statement denying as "false" a media report that 15,000 US marines were ready to land in East Timor. UN special envoy Jamsheed Marker met Wednesday with Indonesian Foreign Minister Alatas and armed forces chief General Wiranto before talks with jailed pro-independence leader Xanana Gusmao. Representatives of the two rival East Timorese camps also met at the United Nation buildings in talks facilitated by Ian Martin, the head of the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET.) UNAMET is organizing the ballot in East Timor, scheduled for August 30, when voters will be asked to choose between independence and autonomy within Indonesia, which overran the territory in 1975 and annexed it in 1976. The meetings preceded two-days of talks between senior officials from the United Nations, Indonesia and Portugal which will kick off Thursday. Speaking after "preliminary discussions" with Alatas, Marker said the two discussed the period between the vote and the Indonesian acceptance or rejection of the outcome not due until November. "After the ballot, the situation will be very important, that is why we are discussing the details of what measures need to be taken," Marker said. In New York on Tuesday, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan described the post-ballot period as "delicate" and recommended a doubling of the UN military liaison and unarmed police contingents in East Timor to 710 after the vote. Indonesia and Portugal have agreed that if the 450,000 registered voters reject autonomy, Annan is required to appoint a transitional council to administer the territory until elections to an autonomous regional council are held. Annan also recommended that the UN Security Council should approve a three-month extension of the UN mission after its current mandate expires on September 30. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 11 Aug 1999 jam 23:31:34 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
