NZ observers to pave way for East Timor elections

A clergyman, a politician, a political adviser and a diplomat make up the team of New Zealand observers to monitor East Timor's first steps towards self-government.

Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Phil Goff said Labour MP Rick Barker, Alliance Party adviser Andrew Ladley, Father Gerard Burns and Ministry of Foreign Affairs senior official Tony Lynch would spend 10 days in East Timor, starting August 26.

"They will help promote free, fair and credible elections by monitoring and reporting on the conduct and outcome of the ballot, in which the East Timorese people will vote for an 88-member constituent assembly responsible for drafting and adopting East Timor's constitution."

Mr Goff said the observer team brought together "diverse and extensive experience" in East Timor and electoral matters.

Dr Ladley was serving as a legal adviser to the United Nations in Dili in September 1999 when he became part of a group of people held at gunpoint by militiamen while the Indonesian Army stood by.

This year he became one of eight New Zealanders to be awarded the newly minted East Timor Medal by the Prime Minister.

Father Burns spent two months in East Timor as part of the Caritas aid group in 1999.

He was in a relief convoy last month attacked by militia after delivering food and medicine to refugees. The militia pulled back when they saw him in his white cassock.

Mr Lynch was based at the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta from 1998 until last year and had responsibility for East Timor affairs.

Mr Goff said the team would be funded by the New Zealand Official Development programme. An additional $250,000 from the programme has gone towards election preparations.

The elections represented an important step on the road to full independence for East Timor and New Zealand wanted to support that process, he said.

"This will be the first time the people of East Timor have been able to vote freely and democratically for a representative national assembly.

"New Zealand peacekeepers and police in East Timor will help maintain a secure environment for the elections."

- NZPA

Feature: Indonesia

CIA World Factbook: Indonesia (with map)

Dept. of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia

Antara news agency

Indonesian Observer

The Jakarta Post

UN Transitional Administration in E Timor

East Timor Action Network