Annan
MESSAGE BOARD: Indonesia and East Timor

August 4, 1999
Web posted at: 12:31 a.m. EDT (0431 GMT)

DILI, East Timor (Reuters) -- Voter registration in East Timor for the August 30 ballot on the troubled territory's future has been extended by two days, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

"The Secretary-General has approved a recommendation from UNAMET that registration in East Timor should be kept open for two more full days," Ian Martin, the head of the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET), told reporters.

Martin said he did not think the extension of the registration period would affect the date of the ballot, but added that discussions were continuing with the political groups in East Timor.

Voter registration, the first operational stage in the ballot, was expected to end on Wednesday, but Martin said it would be extended until Friday in East Timor and until Sunday for East Timorese registering in other parts of the world.

Martin said registration had been extended to ensure that as many as possible of some 40,000 to 60,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) in East Timor had a chance to register.

"One of our major concerns is for people who have been internally displaced," he said.

"The indications are that a very good proportion of the internally displaced have presented themselves...but an extension of the period will be useful to make sure that the maximum number of the IDPs have registered."

The United Nations has never formally recognized Indonesia's 1976 annexation of East Timor, and on August 30 the East Timorese will be asked to choose between accepting or rejecting autonomy within Indonesia.

If they reject autonomy, Jakarta has undertaken to allow East Timor to secede from Indonesia.

Martin said the United Nations had registered a total of 410,556 voters up to Monday evening, exceeding their initial estimates of 300,000 to 400,000 eligible voters.

"The fact that we have surpassed the estimate of 400,000 is an indication of the enthusiasm of people to participate in this popular consultation."

Indonesian President B.J. Habibie's January declaration that he was willing to consider independence for East Timor sparked a violent backlash in the territory as pro-Jakarta groups, supported by elements in the Indonesian security forces, instituted a reign of terror designed to swing the vote their way.

The presence of the United Nations and international pressure on Indonesia has curbed the violence, but Martin said he was still concerned about security.

"We want to see further improvement (in the security situation) especially before the campaign period begins, and we are making that clear," he said.

Campaigning is provisionally scheduled to start on August 11.