(11 Aug 1999) English/Nat
A top U-N official visiting Jakarta has said that there will be no further delay to the historical independence ballot in troubled East Timor.
Jamsheed Marker, the personal representative for East Timor for U-N Secretary General Kofi Annan, was in Jakarta for a two-day meeting with senior officials to discuss the ballot, which is scheduled for August 30.
There was a vote of confidence on Wednesday that the East Timor referendum on possible independence will go ahead as planned on August 30.
The United Nations Secretary General's representative for East Timor issued the declaration that there would be no further delays to the referendum after he had met various Indonesian officials, including Foreign Minister, Ali Alatas.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We discussed basically the present on going situation of course which we find satisfactory in terms of the progress toward the ballot. We also discussed phase two of what is to happen after the ballot. We had preliminary discussions on that and I took his advice and guidance on the meetings we are going to be having at the senior official's level.
SUPERCAPTION: Jamsheed Marker, U-N Secretary General's Representative for East Timor
In other developments, Ian Martin, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in East Timor, held talks with Jose Alexandre "Xanana" Gusmao, the jailed leader of the East Timorese pro-independence forces.
Martin declined to say what they had discussed.
There are widespread concerns that a vote for independence in East Timor will not be accepted by pro-Jakarta militias in the region.
The militias have been accused of creating riots in recent months in which dozens of people have been killed.
On the other side of the issue, pro-independence Falintil guerrillas have said they would not accept a vote for special autonomy as they do not believe such a result is possible in a fair vote.
Indonesia invaded East Timor in 1975 after Lisbon withdrew the Portuguese administration.
Jakarta annexed the territory the following year in a move that has never been accepted by the United Nations.
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