---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- AP-NY-08-24-99 2020EDT U.N. Wants E. Timor Vote Aug. 30 .c The Associated Press By EDITH M. LEDERER UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council said Tuesday it wants the ballot on independence or autonomy for East Timor to go ahead as planned on Aug. 30. But U.N. officials said an upsurge in violence could delay voting in some areas. U.N. officials said they are still hoping that Indonesia will improve security in the next few days so voting can take place throughout the territory without violence or intimidation. Anti-independence militias have stepped up attacks around the western towns of Maliana and Suai and the eastern town of Viqueque. Ian Martin, head of the U.N. mission in East Timor, said balloting might have to be postponed in those areas. ``The question of whether or not we can conduct polling there is real,'' Martin, who is in charge of organizing the U.N.-supervised ballot, said Tuesday. The Security Council and U.N. officials clearly hope that no delays will be necessary. ``The intention of the council is to proceed with the ballot on the 30th, and of course, to proceed throughout the territory,'' said Namibia's U.N. Ambassador Martin Andjaba, the current council president. A Security Council statement ``highlighted the importance of the ballot going ahead as planned on Aug. 30 in a secure environment.'' A senior U.N. official speaking on condition of anonymity said there were two grounds that would force a postponement - if international staff supervising the vote felt unable to carry out their duties, or if people were unable to vote. Violence escalated in the former Portuguese colony after Indonesia announced in January that it would put the Timorese on the road to independence if they reject wide-ranging autonomy. Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 and annexed it the following year. Under the May 5 agreement between Indonesia and Portugal paving the way for the ballot, Indonesia is responsible for security in East Timor, although a small international police force is also present. The council also circulated a draft resolution to increase the international police force from 280 to 410 to advise Indonesian police and the number of military liaison officers from 50 to 300. It would also send a team of about 50 officers to help train a new Timorese police force due to be created regardless of the vote's results. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 25 Aug 1999 jam 03:23:11 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
