East Timor Autonomy Ballot Campaigning Begins

Press Release
United Nations

Campaigning for UN-supervised autonomy ballot in East Timor to start Saturday.

One day before the start of campaigning for the East Timor autonomy proposal, senior officials from Indonesia, Portugal and the United Nations continued their talks in Jakarta on matters relating to the post- ballot period, a spokesman for the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) said Friday.

The tripartite discussions are focusing on UNAMET's role during phase II, the period after the scheduled 30 August vote and before the implementation of the ballot's results, which would either grant East Timor autonomy within Indonesia or begin a process that would lead to the territory's independence.

Saturday marks the start of the political campaign period for the so-called popular consultation. In Dili, the territory's capital, the United Front for East Timor Autonomy is expected to hold a rally at the Merdeka field in Comoro village, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, the National Council of the Timorese Resistance (CNRT) notified the UNAMET Chief Electoral Officer that it had named seven representatives to sit on the regional campaign coordination committees in Dili, Ambino, Suai, Baucau, Viqueque, Los Palos and Maliana. The CNRT office in Suai was expected to open Friday morning, the spokesman said.

ENDS

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