INDONESIA: EAST TIMORESE VOTE IN POLLING STATIONS ON A HISTORIC REFERENDUM EXPECTED TO SET THE TERRITORY ON THE PATH TO INDEPENDENCE
Record ID:
328782
INDONESIA: EAST TIMORESE VOTE IN POLLING STATIONS ON A HISTORIC REFERENDUM EXPECTED TO SET THE TERRITORY ON THE PATH TO INDEPENDENCE
- Title: INDONESIA: EAST TIMORESE VOTE IN POLLING STATIONS ON A HISTORIC REFERENDUM EXPECTED TO SET THE TERRITORY ON THE PATH TO INDEPENDENCE
- Date: 30th August 1999
- Summary: DILI, EAST TIMOR (AUGUST 30, 1999) (REUTERS) 1. LV OF CROWDS OUTSIDE POLLING STATION 0.05 2. SV/CU WOMAN WAITING TO REGISTER/FINGER BEING MARKED TO SHOW SHE HAS VOTED (4 SHOTS) 0.22 3. CU BALLOT SHEET BEING STAMPED 0.31 4. SV WOMAN VOTING WATCHED BY FORMER AUSTRALIAN DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER TIM FISCHER 0.50 5. SLV/CU/SV PEOPLE VOTING (5 SHOTS) 1.20 6. MCU (English) PRO JAKARTA AUTONOMY LEADER, BRASILIO ARAGAO SAYING : "We are not very happy with the procedures today because we have seen many frauds and manipulations going on, in some areas we have reports that the boxes were not shown to the voters and in other areas our sources said that the boxes were already filled with ballot papers that are already marked." 1.42 MALIANA, EAST TIMOR (AUGUST 30, 1999) (REUTERS) 7. SV VOTERS BEING REGISTERED TO VOTE 1.49 8. SV DISABLED MAN GOING UP TO VOTE (2 SHOTS) 2.12 BACAU, EAST TIMOR (AUGUST 30, 1999) (POOl) 9. SV UN ENVOY ON EAST TIMOR, JAMSHEED MARKER, GETTING OFF HELICOPTER; CHILDREN CHEERING 2.35 10. SV MARKER WALKING THROUGH CROWDS 2.48 11. SV CROWD CHEERING 2.53 DILI, EAST TIMOR (AUGUST 30, 1999) (REUTERS) 12. LV/SV OF UNITED NATIONS NEWS CONFERENCE (2 SHOTS) 3.03 13. MCU (ENGLISH) UN ENVOY ON EAST TIMOR, JAMSHEED MARKER SAYING : "It is too early to assess the result of the polls, but one thing is manifestly clear, whatever the outcome of the ballot, today the eagle of liberty has spread it's proud wings over the people of East Timor" 3.36 LIQUICA, EAST TIMOR (AUGUST 30, 1999) (REUTERS) 14. SLV/SV PRO-JAKARTA MILITIA MEMBERS BEING ARRESTED IN LIQUICA FOR THREATENING AUSTRALIAN JOURNALISTS/ INDONESIAN POLICE (3 SHOTS) 4.01 15. SV POLICE WITH GUNS ON LORRY DRIVING AWAY 4.15 DILI, EAST TIMOR (AUGUST 30, 1999) (REUTERS) 16. SLV EXTERIOR OF POLLING STATION 4.17 17. SV/CU BOXES BEING SEALED AT POLLING STATION IN DILLI (3 SHOTS) 4.42 18. MCU WOMAN ON WALKIE-TALKIE 4.44 19. SV OFFICIAL PUTTING BOX INTO VAN 4.55 20. SLV/SV BAIRO-CENTRAL POLLING STATION - NATIONAL MUSEUM OF TIMOR CONVERTED INTO MAIN COUNTING STATION/SECURITY (2 SHOTS) 5.00 21. SV UN TRUCK ARRIVING WITH BALLOT BOXES (2 SHOTS) 5.19 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 14th September 1999 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DILI, BACAU, LIQUICA AND MALIANA, EAST TIMOR
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVAD9T7PVTRFMXVRJ12ZQVN9PP40
- Story Text: Hundreds of thousands of East Timorese have been
flocking to polling stations for a historic referendum which
is expected to set the troubled territory on the path to
independence.
Although the lead-up to the vote has been marred by
violence between pro- and anti-independence groups, by the
time polls closed the event had been relatively peaceful.
Defying threats of violence, thousands queued outside
polling stations from the early hours on Monday (August 30) to
cast their vote in the landmark referendum.
Security was tight because of fears of attacks by
pro-Jakarta militias which have killed hundreds this year in a
bid to keep the former Portuguese colony within Indonesia.
As voters poured into polling stations across East Timor,
many voters said they were happy to have a say in the
territory's future after 24 years of Indonesian rule.
Voters' fingers were marked with invisible ink which can
be seen only under a special light to ensure they cannot vote
twice - and also so that no one else will know if they have voted.
In Maliana, thousands of Timorese also cast their votes -
there were no reports of violence, despite the fact the area
was considered a blackspot for violence in the run up to the vote.
In the town of Liquica, several members of a pro-Jakarta
militia were arrested for allegedly threatening a team of
Australian journalists.
Liquica was the scene of a massacre of pro-independence
supporters earlier this year.
The result of the vote -- the first time East Timorese
have been allowed to choose their own future since Indonesia's
invasion in 1975 -- is expected within the week.
Western observers said the vote appeared to be progressing
in an orderly and peaceful way.
But pro-Jakarta groups claimed their observers had
witnessed possible tampering with ballot papers in some towns.
An electorate of more than 450,000 East Timorese voted in
the territory and around the world to choose between
independence or autonomy within Indonesia, whose often brutal
23-year rule has never been internationally recognised.
The result is widely expected to favour independence for
the former Portuguese colony.
The ballot result must still be ratified by Indonesia's
top legislative body, the People's Consultative Assembly,
which is due to convene in October.
The United Nations said more than 90 percent of the
430,000 voters registered in East Timor had cast ballots.It
said despite some minor incidents the vote was remarkably
trouble-free.
"Whatever the outcome of the ballot, today the eagle of
liberty has spread its proud wings over the people of East
Timor and nothing by the grace of God can ever take them
away," U.N.special envoy Jamsheed Marker said.
As polling stations closed Indonesian police secured the
United Nations vote counting centre in Dili as polls across
the country began sending in sealed ballot boxes.
The United Nations said one of its East Timorese workers
was attacked and killed on Monday, marring what had otherwise
been a peaceful vote on the disputed territory's future status.
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