INDONESIA: JAKARTA HAS SAID THAT MORE THAN 100,00 INTERNALLY DISPLACED EAST TIMORESE HAVE VOTED TO REMAIN UNDER INDONESIAN RULE
Record ID:
584830
INDONESIA: JAKARTA HAS SAID THAT MORE THAN 100,00 INTERNALLY DISPLACED EAST TIMORESE HAVE VOTED TO REMAIN UNDER INDONESIAN RULE
- Title: INDONESIA: JAKARTA HAS SAID THAT MORE THAN 100,00 INTERNALLY DISPLACED EAST TIMORESE HAVE VOTED TO REMAIN UNDER INDONESIAN RULE
- Date: 7th June 2001
- Summary: (W3) KUPANG, WEST TIMOR, INDONESIA (JUNE 7, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. SLV/SV INTERNALLY DISPLACED EAST TIMORESE WAITING TO VOTE (2 SHOTS) 0.15 2. SV WOMAN HAVING HER THUMB PAINTED IN INK 0.21 3. CU PUTTING THUMB ON VOTING CAR 0.26 (W3) KUPANG, WEST TIMOR (JUNE 8, 2001) (REUTERS) 4. SLV/SV/CU OF TALLY ROOM ACCOUNT ON WHITEBOARD (3 SHOTS) 0.44 5. MCU (English) INDONESIAN FOREIGN AFFAIRS INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION DEPARTMENT DIRECTOR DR. R.M. MARTY NATALEGAWA SAYING "Most if us would agree that the registration took place in a good manner. What is especially noticeable was the tremendous enthusiasm shown by the refugees to register themselves. They were able to exercise and carry through their wish to register themselves. They had come to the various polling stations in large numbers, bringing their families with them, and I think this is assertive of the fact that the refugees wish to end uncertainty which they have been facing over the past two years, and want to go on with their lives." 1.30 6. SLV INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS 1.35 7. MCU (English) NATALEGAWA SAYING "And now what we would expect to do first of all is to finalise the result of the counting which is now beginning to come in, and now work the international community to facilitate their return and we will need to first of all examine the data, of course but the main approach would be to act with speed to act urgently and quickly, because as we all I think desire, we would like the situation resolved as so as possible, so the refugees may go on with their lives." 2.14 8. SV MAN AT COMPUTER CHECKING VOTES TALLY 2.20 9. CU COMPUTER SCREEN 2.26 10. MCU MAN STANDING IN FRONT OF WHITEBOARD 2.32 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 22nd June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: KUPANG, WEST TIMOR, INDONESIA
- Country: Indonesia
- Reuters ID: LVADM39A1HDPEB8AUY02V0AO3551
- Story Text: Jakarta has said that more than 100,000 internally
displaced East Timorese have voted to remain under Indonesian
rule. Many East Timorese have remained in camps in the
Indonesian ruled West Timor since fleeing or being transported
across the border to escape violence which erupted as a result
of their country's independence struggle in 1999.
But the United Nations has been quick to cast doubt on the
validity of the claim citing suspicion that the result was
obtained under intimidation.
Indonesia this week embarked on the registration of
tens of thousands of internally displaced East Timorese living
in camps in West Timor where they were herded in 1999 after
their homeland across the border voted to break from Jakarta's
rule.
The displaced, who live largely under the control of
pro-Jakarta militias, were asked if they wanted to stay or
return to East Timor, which the gangs ravished after the 1999
independence vote. The presence of the militias has stirred
suspicion the refugees would feel unable to state their real
preference.
In the West Timor capital, Kupang, around 2,000 km (1,250
miles) east of Jakarta, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Department
Director, Dr. R.M. Marty Natalegawa said on Friday (June 8)
that the registration went well with the cooperation of the
displaced East Timorese.
"Most if us would agree that the registration took place
in a good manner. What is especially noticeable was the
tremendous enthusiasm shown by the refugees to register
themselves. They were able to exercise and carry through
their wish to register themselves. They had come to the
various polling stations in large numbers, bringing their
families with them, and I think this is assertive of the fact
that the refugees wish to end uncertainty which they have been
facing over the past two years, and want to go on with their
lives," Natalegawa said.
An Indonesian poll official said some people had been
detained for trying to disturb the process although he gave no
details.
The unnamed official said of 105,799 votes counted so far,
only 1,493 people had chosen to return to U.N.-administered
East Timor. Final results are not expected for up to two
weeks.
"And now what we would expect to do first of all is to
finalise the result of the counting which is now beginning to
come in, and now work the international community to
facilitate their return and we will need to first of all
examine the data, of course but the main approach would be to
act with speed to act urgently and quickly, because as we all
I think desire, we would like the situation resolved as so as
possible, so the refugees may go on with their lives,"
Natalegawa said.
Indonesia estimates that 130,000 refugees still live in
West Timor. The U.N. has put the figure nearer 90,000.
The U.N. transitional administrator in East Timor, Sergio
Vieira de Mello, has expressed doubt about the registration
process issuing a statement on Saturday (June 9) which read;
"Given the coercive circumstances the refugees have been
living under for almost 20 months, the Transitional
Administration will not take the results of the choices made
by the refugees as necessarily reflecting their true and
definite desires."
Indonesia has denied accusations of widespread
intimidation by the pro-Jakarta gangs.
U.N. officials had estimated that no more than ten percent
of the displaced East Timorese would choose to stay in
Indonesia, which invaded the former Portuguese colony of East
Timor in 1975 and ruled it under martial law for the next 23 years.
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