---------------------------------------------------------- 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 ---------------------------------------------------------- ANTARA, Aug 12 1999 E Timor: Indonesia Denies Carter's Accusation On Autonomy Ballot New York, Aug 12 (ANTARA)-The Indonesian ambassador to the United Nations, Makarim Wibisono, has rejected an accusation made by former US president Jimmy Carter that Indonesian officials are now trying to sabotage the autonomy ballot in East Timor slated to be held on August 30. "Many disinformation has come up because the autonomy ballot is coming. There are many baseless accusations, such as the one saying that Indonesian officials have not been able to bow to regulations on the ballot," Wibisono said here on Wednesday. He then cited tha anticipated number of voters which was expected to total only 400,000; it apparently could reach some 446,000. This means that the registration period is a success. "So, how could Indonesia foil the ballot"? Makarim added. Another evidence proving Indonesia wants a fair and peaceful ballot, is the Indonesian stance in accepting additional UN civilian police and military liaison officers. Indonesia, he said, has made a positive response and a view towards efforts aimed at increasing the security. And although the May 5 agreement does not mention the liasion officers, Indonesia is resdy to accept the request. "There is no reason for Indonesian officials to sabotage the ballot. We are the ones who wants the East Timor case to be settled throughly and we are the ones who initiated such a ballot and we are ready for whatever the results are of the ballot. That is why we offer them the second option. If they accept the autonomy, thank God, but if they choose to be independent, it's okay", he said. Makarim also straightened out circulating views saying that the UN existence in East Timor is a kind of pressure on Indonesia to make the country switch international attention so as to not see the real East Timor case. On the attendance of the UN civil police and military liasion officers, he said they are not on a pacifying mission, but merely to give advice. "The UN never thinks about sending a peace-keeping force. And if the UN has such an intention, the process would be transparent, as it will be discussed at the UN Security Council and is a sensitive matter," he said, referring to the deployment of such a force to Somalia, which consequently resulted in some US servicemen being killed in action. (U.LNY01/LPT-1/nn04/10:54/INT-TA/nn02/TB05) ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 18 Aug 1999 jam 10:18:08 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
