March 14, 1999
The United Nations would rely on Australian military and other support to ensure a peaceful and positive ballot in East Timor, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan said yesterday. And Mr Annan told SBS television's Dateline program that the Indonesian government remained committed to releasing jailed resistance leader Jose Xanana Gusmao, possibly before a vote.
Mr Annan said there were still problems to overcome such as the logistics of organising the ballot within the region and for East Timorese living around the world, but that he was hopeful of a positive outcome. "We would want Australian contribution," he said. "We have approached Australia and many other countries with capacity and interest in the problem to work with us in bringing it to a successful conclusion, so we will be relying on Australian support and contribution as we would with other countries."
Mr Annan said the UN had to be seen to be organising a transparent ballot for a free East Timor. "What is important is how credible the entire process is and if the flaws that one perceives are such as to negate the results of the entire elections ... we will try to ensure that it is credible, it is democratic, it is free, it is well organised and only those who are entitled to vote are admitted at the ballot box," Mr Annan said. "I think the team of electoral experts will be working with us, not only in East Timor, but in the diaspora to determine who is eligible to vote."
Mr Annan said the minister had reaffirmed the government's commitment to the UN that Xanana Gusmao would be released from house arrest, while 18 remaining political prisoners also would be released. "Yesterday the minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to us that Xanana Gusmao will be released as part of the overall settlement that we are discussing, so I am hoping that he will be free before the actual vote takes place," he said.
East Timor became Indonesia's 27th province in 1976, a year after Indonesian troops invaded the former Portuguese colony. Clashes between pro- and anti-independence factions have escalated this year, with those wanting to remain with Indonesia citing ongoing unrest in the former Portuguese colony of Angola following a UN ballot there. Australian troops were on alert for active service and some in training in northern Queensland could be sent to Timor.
