UNAMET Spokesman David Wimhurst informed correspondents that an East Timorese Consultative Commission would be established on 31 August. The Commission will comprise 25 individuals of which 10 will be nominated by either side of the issue and the Secretary-General will appoint five. This weekend in Jakarta the Special Representative, Mr. Ian Martin, had further talks with the East Timorese leadership on this issue, which were described as constructive. The nominations of the 20 individuals have been put forward and the names will be announced later in the week.
Over the weekend, there were a number of incidents. In Los Palos on Saturday, 21 August, in the early hours of the morning a UNAMET vehicle was burned and destroyed. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and an investigation is underway. No one was hurt in this incident.
In Ainaro on Saturday, a residence of UNAMET District Electoral Officers came under attack by militia. The DEOs were moved to the local police station for their protection. No injuries were reported but rocks were thrown and militia were seen in the area armed with knives and bayonets. The police eventually brought the situation under control. During the course of this incident, the CNRT office and UNAMET’s office in the area was also attacked. Later in the day, there was another report of an attack of UNAMET residents in the region. In this case the attackers were driven off by BRIMOB and no injuries were reported.
In Ermera, also on Saturday, a group of DEOs and CivPol were prevented by a roadblock from travelling between Ermera and Fatubolu. As a result they had to turn back to Gleno.
In Suai there is a major concern that was reported following the visit of the U.S. Senators and Congressmen. They found that the 2,000 plus refugees living in the church there have been without water for several days. The U.S. delegation took the matter up with the Bupati who assured them that the water supply would be restored. The actual supply of piped water into the church compound was cut off and is controlled by the local militia. The Public Works Department which controls the water flow in that area is headed by Alberto Denery who is a leader of the FPDK in that region. The militia had explained that they would only restore the water flow on Mr. Denery’s command. [Shortly after the briefing UNAMET Headquarters in Dili received word that the water had been restored late last night. The media has subsequently been informed of this new development].
A correspondent asked the Spokesman if he had any information on any incidents in Maliana. He said UNAMET did receive a report of an incident at the marketplace in Maliana yesterday morning involving militia who were armed with machetes. At this time he was not able to provide further details.
A correspondent asked if this series of incidents represented a pattern. The Spokesman said there has been an upsurge in militia activity in the last two weeks in certain areas, namely Maliana, Suai, Viqueque, Liquica and Ainaro. He said, there seems to be an effort being made to intimidate local people and to move them out. A concern to UNAMET is how these people are going to vote if they are being moved away from where they registered to vote.
In response to a question, the Spokesman said Maliana is considered a very tense area and UNAMET takes the situation there very seriously. He added that in places like Maliana, where people have been intimidated, many have gone to register despite the insecure situation. “It is their courage and determination that saw them through the registration process and we believe that the same determination and courage will be shown on polling day when they finally have their chance to decide their future.”
A correspondent asked what the UN policy is on local populations taking refuge in UN compounds. The Spokesman said what has happened is that people have left their villages where intimidation is going on and have moved into the forrest. UNAMET has not received reports of people actually seeking shelter inside their compounds.
A correspondent asked what the criteria for accrediting international and local observers was. Mr. Wimhurst said those criteria are established by UNAMET’s Chief Electoral Officer who grants accreditation to groups which are neutral, impartial and will be able to observe the election process in a useful manner.
A correspondent asked whether UNAMET had any confirmation of a killing in Maliana. The Spokesman said over the weekend the body of a young man who appears to have been killed last Wednesday was found on the outskirts of Maliana. An investigation is being conducted.
In response to a question, the Spokesman said there is concern that a level playing field has not yet been successfully established in terms of the campaign, given that the CNRT in many areas is not able to campaign openly.
A correspondent asked the Spokesman if he could provide details on the injuries to the Australian CivPol in Suai. He said there was an incident on Saturday night in Suai when a rock was thrown into a restaurant, striking an Australian CivPol who subsequently received six stitches to a head wound. The CivPol is now back at work.
A correspondent asked if UNAMET had contingency plans to deal with people who might be blocked from going to polling stations on 30 August. On polling day itself, the Spokesman said, all UNAMET staff will be deployed to the field. UNAMET expects that the Indonesian police, who are responsible for maintaining law and order, will fulfill that responsibility. If there are incidents, UNAMET will take the appropriate action.
In response to a question, the Spokesman said UNAMET is concerned that there are people who will not want to respect the outcome of the ballot even though the leadership of both sides has made it very clear that it is their intention to do so.
A correspondent asked what plans UNAMET had for people who were not able to vote on 30 August because of long lines. Mr. Wimhurst said in that event UNAMET would reopen their polling stations on 31 August to allow everybody who has not had the opportunity to vote on 30 August to do so.
A correspondent asked whether the TNI had taken any steps to comply with Ian Martin’s call to remove certain TNI members. The Spokesman said UNAMET had not received any reports on TNI staff being removed as a result of Mr. Martin’s call, although, the matter was being raised again by Mr. Martin at his meetings in Jakarta.
A correspondent asked the Spokesman for the final number of registered voters. He said the provisional figure was 451,792 in total of which 438,513 were registered in East Timor and 13,279 at external centres.
A correspondent asked what the situation in Suai is like. Mr. Wimhurst said the situation remains tense.
A correspondent asked if UNAMET had information confirming that the Indonesian police were involved in last week’s incident in Viqueque. The Spokesman said UNAMET had received reports from Viqueque indicating that militia and TNI appeared to have been involved in that incident but that was being investigated further.
A correspondent asked the Spokesman when the votes would be counted. He said the East Timorese votes will be counted in Dili in one counting centre and the external votes will be counted in each of the external polling centres. Those results will then be communicated to Dili so there will be a final tally to make an announcement. The announcement, he said, will be made simultaneously in New York by the Secretary-General and at UNAMET Headquarters in Dili.
A correspondent asked when the ballot boxes would be brought to Dili. Mr. Wimhurst said once the polling is finished, the ballot boxes will be sealed and then transported under CivPol escort to Dili by road and by helicopter.
A correspondent asked if individual polling results per region would be announced. The Spokesman said there will be one count and one result including results from external voting sites.
A correspondent asked whether there would be an increased role of UNAMET in receiving arms from militia. Mr. Wimhurst said the first step on the road to disarmament is the cantonment of Falantil and militia weapons, which has just taken place. The actual modalities for disarming, he said, still have to be worked out and require more resources than UNAMET has at the moment. Discussions on this matter are continuing.
In response to a question, the Spokesman said in each area there is a regional campaign committee to which all violations are reported. They are subsequently forwarded to UNAMET headquarters and then taken up by the Chief Electoral Officer.
