(4 Sep 1999) Indonesian/Nat
East Timor has voted overwhelmingly to break its ties with Indonesia in favor of independence.
In the referendum 78.5 percent voted for independence.
At the home of East Timor's spiritual leader, Bishop Carlos Belo, people had been taking refuge in the run up to the result.
The East Timorese capital was quiet after Saturday's result with frightened residents staying inside their homes.
But there have since been reports that gunfire has been heard near
the U-N compound.
But pro-independence supporters are relieved at the outcome and some are hoping it will put an end to the violence.
The independence movement leader Leandro Isaac believed the result would mean an end to the divide between pro and anti-independence voters.
Militia leader Eurico Guterres said he accepted the result and put the responsibility for keeping law and order with the United Nations.
Anti-independence militiamen have occupied many towns and villages across East Timor and police have evacuated dozens of U-N staff workers.
Many U-N workers and journalists left before the result was announced after pro-Indonesian militia ran amok in Dili and other towns.
In Dili Indonesian police were preventing pro-Indonesian supporters from entering the city.
And at the port foreigners and refugees were getting onto boats bound for West Timor.
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
'We have agreed to live or die for independence, this is my dream come true. After this referendum there will be no terror and intimidation any more. However the militias are helped by the TNI (military). We want everything to become peaceful again.'
SUPER CAPTION: Pro-independence supporter
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
"The pro-independence side has won the referendum but we are still together. Their victory is our big chance'
SUPER CAPTION: Pro-integration supporter
SOUNDBITE: (Indonesian)
'Today's victory is the victory of the Timorese people. There is no more distinction between pro independence and pro integration people.'
SUPER CAPTION: Leandro Isaac, CNRT independence party leader
SOUNDBITE (Indonesian)
'I heard the temporary result. We concede that the pro-autonomy side has lost. We are not upset. No hard feelings at all with that result and we agree to accept the result whatever it is'
SUPER CAPTION: Eurico Guterres, Militia leader
SOUNDBITE (Indonesian)
"From now on it's the U-N's responsibility to control the situation in East Timor. As I say I am a good citizen, I will stay here in East Timor and I will stay an Indonesian citizen.'
SUPER CAPTION: Eurico Guterres, Militia leader
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16 окт 2024
