[This is the unpublished memorandum by the Secretary-General
elaborating on his expectations concerning security for the
consultation. Indonesia has agreed to this.]
Memorandum
The Secretary-General has been entrusted by the Governments of
Indonesia and Portugal to organize and conduct a popular consultation in
East Timor by the 8th August 1999. He wishes to share with the two
Governments some elements that are usual requirements in United Nations
operations of this kind. While under the provisions of the Security
Agreement it is Indonesia's responsibility to ensure that a peaceful
environment exists for the holding of a free and fair ballot, the
Secretary-General has been called upon to ascertain that the necessary
security situation exists for the peaceful implementation of the
consultation process.
Therefore, the Secretary-General wishes to convey to the two
parties the main elements that will need to be in place in order to
enable him to determine that the necessary security conditions exist
for the start of the operational phases of the consultation process:
- as an urgent first step, the bringing of armed civilian groups
under strict control and discipline;
- an immediate ban on rallies by armed groups while ensuring the
freedom of all political groups and tendencies, including both
pro-integration elements and also the CNRT and other pro-
independence forces, to organize and conduct peaceful political
activities;
- the prompt arrest and prosecution of those who incite or threaten
to use violence against others. In this connection, it has been
noted with concern that public threats have already issued to the
United Nations by certain individuals;
- assumption by the Indonesian Police of sole responsibility for
the maintenance of law and order;
- redeployment of Indonesian military forces:
- free access to the mass media for the United Nations as well as
both sides of the political divide in East Timor;
- full participation of the United Nations in the Commission on
Peace and Stability, which should provide a forum for all parties
to address and resolve effectively issues relating to compliance
with the agreement during the consultative process and for
resolving disputes and frictions on the ground; and
- the immediate institution of a process of laying down of arms by
all armed groups, to be completed well in advance of the holding
of the ballot.
4 May 1999