Amb. Marker: Good Morning Ladies and Gentlemen and thank you very much for coming here this morning. If any of you had to pay scalpers prices to get in here please let me know because I want my cut. As Mr. Ian Martin said we had a very intensive visit. Whilst in Jakarta we had the opportunity to meet with President Habibie, with Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, with General Wiranto and also with Xanana Gusmao. In addition, we had our negotiations at the senior officials’ level on the tripartite meeting.
At the same time, we were able to have informal discussions which were very productive with the different elements of the East Timorese political leadership. We discussed both the process leading up to the ballot, as well as exchanged some ideas on what needs to be done after the ballot.
Two things emerged from our talks in Jakarta. The first was the seriousness of the commitment of the Government of Indonesia for the conduct of a peaceful ballot in East Timor. The second was the equally serious commitment of the East Timorese political leadership to conducting this in an atmosphere of peace. Whatever emerged after the ballot, the people of East Timor should and would live in peace and that the motivation would be reconciliation and not retribution.
These are very positive elements, which give us confidence that we can go ahead with the process over the next two weeks. But we are also realistic enough to know that in terms of the harsh realities of what has happened, especially over the last 30 years, the ride will not be as smooth as we would have wished or liked. This realization enabled us to make the necessary provisions and take the necessary measures to ensure that the process does go forward.
A process that has been set in motion, first by the Security Council and the General Assembly, which means in effect the general will of the international community. Secondly, and perhaps more important, by the desires and the wishes of the people of East Timor. These are two heavy charges which Ian Martin and his team in UNAMET are determined to fully discharge with success and with a full sense of responsibility.
I leave shortly for Jakarta and then go on to Karachi. I will be proceeding to Lisbon for the next round of the senior officials’ meeting, which is scheduled for the 26th. I will then return here to Dili, hopefully by the 28th or 29th , to be in time for the balloting process.
Yesterday, as Mr. Martin told you, we had a chance to visit some of the regions. Whereas the atmosphere and the climate was much better than I have known it before and there are definite signs of improvement in the security situation, we did note some disturbing elements which are still present and we are taking all measures to address them.
We also heard not fully substantiated, but nevertheless ominous, reports of some threats to some personnel on the day of the balloting. We are taking this up with all the authorities concerned because I am sure this does not have official sanction. But, as I said on an earlier occasion, UNAMET is not going to be put off course one degree by any rogue elements, or, as I called them earlier, hoodlums. We have a job to do and we will do it, insh allah.
That is all I really want to say at this point in time. I look forward to seeing you again, but I will be very happy to take any question that you may have.
Question & Answer:
Q: If there are clashes on polling day, will you be withdrawing staff?
Amb. Marker: It is the responsibility of the Government of Indonesia under the agreement to maintain peace and security. It is the responsibility of UNAMET to carry out the exercise of balloting. Both these, I hope, will prevail.
Q: It is my understanding that the Indonesian Government intends to start withdrawing the day after the ballot. How far advanced are negotiations in planning for a post-ballot security presence, such as a peacekeeping force, and for additional staff on the ground?
Amb. Marker: I did not get that impression in my talks with the Government of Indonesia. In fact, I got the contrary impression that in the event of the rejection of the autonomy proposal the Government of Indonesia would still continue its presence here and that arrangements would be made in an orderly fashion for whatever transfer was desired, or required or necessary under the new circumstances.
Q: (from Bahasa Indonesian) From reports that I have heard, there is a possibility that Xanana Gusmao may come to East Timor on the 20th [of August]. From talks with FALINTIL members, it seems that many of them have not yet registered. What are your comments on these two points?
Amb. Marker: As for the first point, I really do not know. The position of the Secretary-General on this question has been very clear. He has called for the release of Xanana Gusmao and he continues to do so. But we also hope that in the meantime he can participate more actively in the consultation process. We are discussing with the Indonesian Government the way in which this can be worked out.
As for your second question, the reports that I got from our election officials, who have done a superb job, is that more or less everyone who wanted to be registered has been registered.
Perhaps proof of this was the fact that not only the large number that registered, but also the fact that registration on the two last extra days fell down quite a bit. We are more than reasonably satisfied that all those who wanted to register have been registered.
Q: You say you are happy with the commitment of the Indonesian Government that you received at your meetings in Jakarta. Are you now satisfied that Indonesian police on the ground here in East Timor are carrying out their security obligations in line with the assurances you are getting from Jakarta?
Amb. Marker: If you are talking about 100 per cent, the answer is no. They [Indonesian police] have certainly made very extensive efforts and where there have been failures we have not hesitated to point it out to the authorities, particularly during the working of [inaudible].
Q: Since May the 5th, we have been receiving commitments, like you said, from the Indonesian authorities, yet violations continue. Last week in Viqueque, TNI and police were implicated in hostilities against students. What reason do you have to give any more credence to these commitments from the Indonesian authorities?
Amb. Marker: The answer to that question is that I am committed to carrying out the ballot under reasonably peaceful conditions. What measure of credence, in my own mind, I give to one statement or another is not material at this point in time.
What is important is that with negotiations, with de marches, with constant pressures from the international community, as well as from the United Nations, we insist with the Indonesian authorities to create the conditions to which they are committed in a solemn international agreement. What happened in Viqueque two days ago was deplorable and we are taking it up with the authorities. We are trying to ensure that when the time comes for the voting that conditions there will enable the people to go out and vote.
The fact that so many East Timorese came out to register is a moral obligation of very immense order. We are committed to giving them the chance to express their views and the Secretary-General is determined not to let anything come in the way of that.
Q: (from Bahasa Indonesian) Is Kofi Annan committed to securing the release of Xanana Gusmao one week before the ballot and will the results of the vote be announced between the 7th and 8th of September?
Amb. Marker: The Secretary-General has been committed to obtain the release of Xanana Gusmao. This is what he wishes very much and what he has conveyed to the Indonesian leadership for a long time now. As for the date of the announcement of the results of the ballot, that depends on a number of factors, and UNAMET will be issuing a statement on that in due course.
Q: You said there have been some disturbing elements despite assurances from Indonesian authorities. Can you be more specific and do you have any information about the increase of UN police after the ballot?
Amb. Marker: Your first question, yesterday we went to a camp of internally displaced people in Suai. I found that to be a very disturbing element. We also heard some reports of threats and intimidations, which might take place in one form or another at the time of the ballot. I don’t say that they are necessarily true but I do not intend that we would ignore them either.
We are taking them up with the Indonesian authorities on the grounds that aggressive and progressive measures are better than trying to remedy a situation later. Whilst on this, I might add that on the 30th we intend to have a very vivid UN presence all over the island.
Most of my senior colleagues and myself will spend the whole day in helicopters going from one polling centre to another to make sure that the proper conditions prevail and to be able to respond to any situation that may arise at the time. We would also welcome at that time the presence of the many press correspondents who will be present and the NGOs. We want to ensure and make sure that everything goes smoothly.
Q: Did the Indonesian Government give permission to re-double the number of CivPol and, if they did, when will they start arriving, and in the post-ballot phase, what legal code will apply to East Timor, particularly during the transition period?
Amb. Marker: In answer to your first question, yes they did and that has been recommended in the report to the Security Council. As to how quickly we can get them there, that is difficult to say. I might add that it is generally easier to get military personnel out then it is to get civilian police officers. Most civilian police officers are already involved in their professional duties in the country on an active basis, and governments find it difficult to find provide them quickly enough.
As for your second question, the May 5th agreement stipulates that quite clearly, the responsibility will continue to be that of the Indonesian Government, whichever way the ballot goes. If the ballot goes in favor of autonomy then the Indonesian Government will need to take certain measures to implement that and set up the East Timorese Assembly under the autonomy agreement.
If the ballot rejects the autonomy proposal, the Indonesian Government will in due course put forward a law in the NPR [People’s Consultative Assembly] changing the situation. I don’t want to go into too many details, but the answer to your question is that the Indonesian Government will continue to remain present until the arrangements envisaged in the agreement come into place.
Q: (from Bahasa Indonesia) If conditions continue to be of concern, will UNAMET make the decision to bring in peacekeeping forces?
Amb. Marker: It is not UNAMET’s decision to bring in peacekeeping forces, the Security Council has to take that decision. For the Security Council to take such a decision, I think that conditions have to be far more serious than they are right now. Thank you.
