By Vannessa Hearman
DILI — Pro-independence forces and United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) workers are very confident that the referendum in East Timor on autonomy or independence, now scheduled for August 30, will go ahead without problems.
The UN, headquartered in what used to be a teacher training college, is highly visible in Dili, but while there is broad agreement that its presence has resulted in less militia activity, the situation is still tense and the streets are deserted at night. Pro-independence activists, in particular, stay indoors after dark.
On August 1, outside UNAMET's Dili regional office, Angelino Amaral, a 24-year-old bank worker, was shot three times by two masked men on a motorcycle. The gunmen were reported to be from the Aitarak militia. When Amaral died, local residents set alight the house of the suspected murderer.
In regional areas, to which members of organisations such as the Student Solidarity Council have travelled to carry out voter education, the security situation is still bad. On the road between Dili and Ermera, villagers have deserted some hamlets, and houses and market stalls are being forced to fly the Indonesian flag.
In Ermera, the state primary school has been closed until after the ballot and others, such as the Imaculata Conceicao Catholic primary school, are employing only male teachers because of the lack of security.
According to one East Timorese UNAMET employee based in Ermera, the ongoing intimidation and harassment of villagers in the district is preventing them from registering to vote.
During the voter registration, open since July 16, classrooms in already overflowing schools have been commandeered for registration centres. There are 200 such centres, some in Dili recording queues of more than 100 people waiting to register.
UNAMET estimates that more than 400,000 people have registered so far. Registration closes on August 6 inside East Timor and on August 8 outside East Timor.
On August 30, voters will be asked to choose between two symbols. The "yes" to autonomy option is symbolised by a traditional Timorese house and an Indonesian flag. The "no" option is represented by a map of East Timor and the CNRT (National Council of Timorese Resistance) flag.
Measures to ensure a "free and fair" ballot include putting invisible ink on the thumbs of those who have voted, all votes going into the same ballot box, voters going to booths alone and all votes being counted in a central office in Dili.
Women's organisations, including Gertak and Fokupers, have been asked to produce leaflets and radio and television messages urging women to participate in the ballot. The regent of Maliana's physical abuse of his wife for refusing to vote according to his pro-autonomy views is cited as an example of the situation confronting women voters. The woman reported the incident to UNAMET and has left her husband.
Voters must register and vote at the same polling centre. This will disenfranchise some refugees in outlying areas who have been driven out of their villages by militia violence and are unable to return to vote.
The UN Security Council voted on August 4 to extend UNAMET's presence in East Timor until September 30. However, the framework for this presence is still unclear.
As part of its voter education, UNAMET's public information office is conducting a media campaign using television, radio and the local newspaper Suara Timor Timur (Voice of East Timor). Illiteracy is still a major problem in East Timor, which UNAMET has tried to address by using acting troupes and singers; one of the most popular songs in East Timor at present is "Popular Consultation Belongs to the People".
This message is being used by the Indonesian government to its own ends. It is campaigning around the idea that " both sides" of the conflict needs to "own" the process. Government banners in Dili urge East Timorese to have mercy and love for one another. One banner declares: "If you love Timorese, love both — pro-integration and pro-independence".
The campaign period is due to open formally as soon as voter registration is completed. However, already Aitarak militia banners in Dili declare: "Dead or alive — integration forever". There are no CNRT banners.
Portrayals of the conflict as one between two groups of East Timorese are rejected by CNRT leader David Ximenes. He says that Indonesian troops must withdraw, then the militias will cease to exist.
Ximenes believes that the internally displaced East Timorese will find it very difficult to participate in the ballot due to militia intimidation. In Liquica, he said, militia surrounded registration centres preventing people from registering.
According to a member of the Timorese Women's Organisation, 65 women are being held as slaves and abused sexually by the Indonesian military in outlying areas. UNAMET has only just begun to investigate these claims.
During his visit in Dili on July 30, Australia's foreign affairs minister Alexander Downer said he was unaware of any East Timorese political prisoners aside from Xanana Gusmao. He was responding to questions from an ACTU delegation visiting East Timor. On the same day, a list of 80 East Timorese political prisoners was published in one of Indonesia's newspapers.
When asked if he planned to report back to the Indonesian government about the conditions in East Timor, Downer responded that it was "not appropriate" to do so.