(30 Aug 1999) English/Nat
Despite the murder of a U-N staff member and other sporadic acts of violence, Secretary-General Kofi Annan said over 90 percent of East Timor's registered voters cast ballots Monday "in a calm and dignified manner."
With last reports still coming in to the U-N Mission in East Timor, which supervised the ballot, Annan said "it is clear that the turnout has been extraordinary."
More than 23 years after Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony, over 450-thousand people had registered to vote on whether East Timor remained part of Indonesia with wide-ranging autonomy or moved toward independence under U-N supervision.
The day was marred by the killing of a UNAMET official - the U-N sent its condolences to the family of Joel Lopez Gomez.
The generally peaceful conduct and high turnout for the independence ballot in East Timor have been greeted with relief at both the United Nations and in Washington.
But there was shock over the murder of Joel Lopez Gomez, an UNAMET official who was stabbed to death on his way home after monitoring voting.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"It is with great dismay and sorrow that I have learned, says the Secretary General, I have learned today, of the murder of Mr. Joel Lopez Gomez, an East Timorese staff member of UNAMET, and I am waiting a full report. My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Mr. Lopez Gomez says the Secretary General."
SUPER CAPTION: Manoel de Almeida e Silva, U-N deputy spokesman
The killing overshadowed what was otherwise a sense of relief at U-N headquarters that after a campaign of violence and intimidation from Indonesian-backed militia in the run up to the vote that violence was kept to a minimum on the day.
The Secretary General said it was critical for peace to hold while the votes were counted during the next week.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"During this period I call upon all East Timorese groups to exercise the utmost restraint and patience, to ensure that the will of the East Timorese people may be fully heard."
SUPER CAPTION: Manoel de Almeida e Silva, U-N deputy spokesman
The Clinton administration has supported the independence process in East Timor, although the U-S continues to be criticised by human rights groups for providing logistic support for the Indonesian military, which governs the activities of the anti-independence militia groups.
The administration said the Indonesian government must rein in the military.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We deplore the killing of a U-N employee and the wounding of two others. We note that in these next phases, vote counting and transition that Indonesia retains the responsibility for maintaining order. We remain concerned about the potential for violence and particularly the government of Indonesia should prevent armed militia from resuming their activities."
SUPER CAPTION: James Foley, State Department spokesman
Ballot boxes will be taken from all over East Timor to the territory's capital Dili on Tuesday under U-N escort.
The result of the vote is expected to be announced early next week.
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