East Timor's Referendum in Doubt Amid Violence and Intimidation

Seven months after the Indonesian government announced a referendum for East Timor, the province's future hangs in the balance as violence and intimidation threaten to derail the vote. The referendum, which was supposed to settle the colony's fate once and for all, has been twice postponed due to unrest. Yesterday's rampage by anti-independence militias through East Timor's capital Dili has left at least three people dead, casting further doubt on the vote's prospects. Even if the referendum does go ahead, its aftermath is likely to be turbulent, with pro-independence forces facing significant opposition from anti-independence militias, backed by elements of the Indonesian army.

Key Takeaways:

• The referendum, originally scheduled for Monday, is in doubt due to violence and intimidation by anti-independence militias.
• At least three people were killed in yesterday's rampage through Dili, with many more injured.
• The pro-independence forces are likely to prevail in the vote, but the margin of their victory depends on the extent of the militias' intimidation campaign.
• The Indonesian authorities are responsible for security arrangements for the voting and are expected to keep the peace during the aftermath of the vote.
• The Indonesian authorities have announced that pro-independence leader Xanana Gusmao will be freed from house arrest on September 15, but have not taken action to rein in the militias.
• The referendum has become an acid test of Indonesia's ability to move towards a more democratic form of government.

Statistics:

• At least three people were killed in yesterday's violence in Dili.
• The referendum has been postponed twice due to unrest.
• The pro-independence forces are likely to prevail in the vote, but the margin of their victory is uncertain.
• 800,000 inhabitants of East Timor are eligible to vote in the referendum.

Sources:

• The article compiled from an anonymous news article, 1999.

Note: The cited source is not explicitly mentioned in the original text, and I couldn't verify the exact date or author. If you can provide more information or a specific source, I'll be happy to update the reference.