Officials discuss ways to combat post-poll violence
United Nations, Portuguese and Indonesian officials have begun a flurry of meetings on how to handle the violence expected in East Timor after the August 30 referendum on self-rule for the territory.
UN special envoy Jamsheed Marker met Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, armed forces chief General Wiranto and detained East Timorese resistance leader Xanana Gusmao yesterday.
Publicly, officials at the three days of talks in Jakarta would only say that thought would be given to UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan's proposal to double to about 700 the number of civilian police and military liaison officers there.
But it is thought the UN could seek agreement for the deployment of peacekeeping troops - something Jakarta has always refused.
But UN mission spokesman David Wimhurst rejected speculation that the presence in Jakarta of Joaquin Hutter, from the UN's peacekeeping office, was intended to propel this option.
At the moment, about 400 district electoral officers are stationed across East Timor, preparing for the vote on August 30. Voter registration ended last week and campaigning by the pro-autonomy and pro-integration camps officially begins on Saturday.
These unarmed UN volunteers will be withdrawn within a day or two of the ballot, diminishing the international presence thought to be helping deter further violence in the countryside at present.
It is feared that, if the ballot produces a resounding defeat for the autonomy option, pro-Jakarta militias could unleash violent attacks to express their frustration.
The militias have been told by their Indonesian military sponsors to behave respectably, but a UN source described their capacity for brutality as simply 'on pause-button for now - they can reactivate any time'.
Privately, UN officials note that despite the widespread expectation of a resounding win for pro-independence groups in the ballot, a less clear result would in itself spark further violence.
Resistance leader Jose Ramos Horta said thousands of guns were being distributed around East Timor 'by the Indonesian armed forces who continue to violate every word of every agreement', and bloodshed was almost inevitable.
Observers from the Carter Centre said security in the territory had deteriorated, with 'increased threats of violence and bloodshed if the autonomy option is rejected'.
The centre said former US president Jimmy Carter had contacted President Bacharuddin Habibie and complained senior Indonesian officials were backing the anti-independence militias.
