Timor-Leste
Growing violence and martial law imposition in East Timor have led to mounting international pressure on Indonesia to restore calm within 48 hours or accept international peacekeeping troops. The situation in the half-island territory, where hundreds of thousands of people are seeking to secede from Indonesia, has drawn condemnation from
Timor-Leste
British Foreign Secretary's Special Envoy John Battle arrived in Jakarta on September 7, 1999, amidst escalating violence in East Timor following the announcement of the ballot outcome, which saw 78.5 percent of eligible voters reject Indonesia's autonomy package. The international community, including the British government,
Timor-Leste
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan reported that over 90 percent of registered voters cast ballots in a referendum on self-determination for East Timor, a former Portuguese colony annexed by Indonesia in 1976. The voting process was remarkably free of violence, with only seven out of hundreds of polling stations being
Timor-Leste
Dozens of people were killed and over 60,000 fled their homes in the months leading up to the historic vote, which offered the predominantly Roman Catholic area of East Timor a choice between seceding from Indonesia or becoming an autonomous region within the country. Long lines of people defied
United Nations
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
United Nations
The United Nations will announce the result of the August 30 direct autonomy ballot in East Timor simultaneously in New York and Dili, the capital of East Timor, about one week after the popular consultation. The UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan himself will announce the result, according to U.N. Mission
United Nations
A senior UN official has expressed grave concern over the safety of UN staff in East Timor, citing a pattern of attacks by pro-Jakarta militias intent on disrupting the upcoming referendum on independence. The Indonesian police, responsible for security, have been criticized for their inadequate response to these attacks, with
United Nations
The United Nations' (UN) efforts to ensure a peaceful self-determination process in East Timor are commendable, but the organization has given little thought to the post-ballot transition, risking a potential plunge into civil war. The pro-Indonesian militia groups' recent aggressive activities, including the stoning of a UN office,
United Nations
The United Nations, led by Secretary-General Kofi Annan, has decided to postpone the ballot for East Timor's future, which was originally scheduled for August 8. The decision was made due to concerns over the security situation and logistical problems, as the U.N. aims to ensure a violence-free
United Nations
Indonesian President B.J. Habibie has expressed disapproval of a two-week delay in the United Nations-sponsored autonomy package in East Timor, citing concerns about preparing for his accountability speech in the upcoming general session of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR). The original vote was set for August 8,
United Nations
United Nations Special Representative Ian Martin has arrived in Dili, Indonesia, to oversee the "popular consultation" on the future of East Timor, scheduled for August 8. Martin emphasized that the United Nations is neutral in the matter, only aiming to ensure that the people of East Timor can
United Nations
Australian officials are scheduled to hold talks with Indonesian President B.J. Habibie in Bali on Tuesday, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to the crisis in East Timor. The talks aim to persuade Indonesia to disarm rival factions and free East Timorese rebel leader Xanana Gusmao, who is
