---------------------------------------------------------- Visit Indonesia Daily News Online HomePage: http://www.indo-news.com/ Please Visit Our Sponsor http://www.indo-news.com/cgi-bin/ads1 ---------------------------------------------------------- Australian Broadcasting Corporation Thu, Aug 26 1999 4:08 AM AEST Aust delegation off to observe East Timor ballot Australia's delegation of parliamentary observers to the East Timor autonomy ballot will travel to the province today to begin its duties. The delegation, led by former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer, also includes Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister Laurie Brereton, Liberal Senator Marise Payne, the Democrats' Vicki Bourne, and three public servants. They are part of a United Nations exercise to provide independent scrutiny of the ballot process. Mr Fischer says there is some cause for optimism that Monday's vote will be conducted in a fair and peaceful fashion. "Given the success of the registration, the surprising extent of that success, and more recent equilibrium in many centres in East Timor, I'm quietly confident and hopeful that there might be a reasonably peaceful situation applying for the popular consultation, the vote," he said. While Mr Fischer is quietly confident the ballot can be conducted peacefully, he says it is inappropriate to comment on the Indonesian Government's performance in maintaining security. "As delegation leader, I separate out from any former role as minister, or even as a Member of the Australian Parliament," he said. "I note [Foreign] Minister Downer has reflected on the progress made and also has reminded that as a matter of fact the security requirements, obligations, responsibilities, rest with the Indonesian Government throughout this period." Rally Meanwhile, East Timorese independence supporters have staged their biggest pre-ballot rally as a finale to their campaign for next Monday's vote. The giant motorcade through Dili came amid growing fears of violence around the time of the ballot. Thousands went to the Dili rally perched on trucks and buses in a convoy stretching more than one kilometre through the streets of the provincial capital. They joined others around the seaside headquarters of the Council for Timorese National Resistance. In all 7,000 supporters sang and chanted in their last planned campaign event before next Monday's vote to choose between autonomy within Indonesia and independence. Already this week the UN mission in Dili has warned of an upsurge in violence around two western towns. The largest observer group in the territory has added its voice to concerns, saying the United Nations should move for a much larger and armed security presence in East Timor after the vote. Gusmao to be freed Indonesia's Justice Minister has made clear the timetable for the release of East Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmao. Minister Maladi says the detained leader will be released from house detention as soon as the ballot on East Timor's future is declared by the United Nations. Xanana Gusmao was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1993 for armed rebellion against the state. Former president Suharto later commuted his sentence to 20 years. The Indonesian Government has in the past stated he would be released once East Timor's future is determined. Uncertainty has prevailed about how soon that would come. Justice Minister Maladi has now made it clear. "As soon as the result has been declared by United Nations we're going to release him," he said. The outcome of the ballot to be held on Monday is expected to be known within days. Political crimes amnesty Xanana Gusmao has extended the ultimate olive branch in the final week before the poll to determine East Timor's future. He announced a general amnesty for all political crimes committed until now. At a press conference held at the house where he is detained Xanana Gusmao stated the decision was made after careful consideration. He says he hopes it will be enough to stop the violence in East Timor and the gesture is aimed at achieving reconciliation. In a lengthy statement Xanana Gusmao also announced provisions will be put in place in an independent East Timor allowing for the integration of police, army and militia groups. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Didistribusikan tgl. 25 Aug 1999 jam 22:14:56 GMT+1 oleh: Indonesia Daily News Online <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> http://www.Indo-News.com/ ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
