NEW YORK, 5 MAY 1999
AGREEMENT REGARDING THE MODALITIES FOR THE POPULAR CONSULTATION OF THE EAST TIMORESE THROUGH A DIRECT BALLOT
Agree as follows:
Immediately following the conclusion of the agreement between the two Governments requesting the Secretary-General to consult the East Timorese people on whether they would accept or reject the proposed constitutional framework for autonomy, the Secretary-General will, subject to the appropriate legislative mandate, begin preparations for the popular consultation by deploying in East Timor such personnel as will be adequate for the purpose of executing the various phases of the consultation process.
Preparations for the vote outside East Timor will also begin at locations of major East Timorese concentration outside East Timor.
A. Date for consultation
The ballot will take place on Sunday, 8 August 1999, both inside and outside East Timor.
B. Question to be put before the voters
The question that the Secretary-General will put to the voters is:
"Do you accept the proposed special
autonomy for East Timor within the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia? |
ACCEPT |
OR
"Do you reject the proposed special
autonomy for East Timor, leading to East Timor's separation from Indonesia?" |
REJECT |
The United Nations logo will appear on the ballot papers. The ballot papers will include symbols to facilitate voting by illiterate persons.
C. Entitlement to vote
The following persons, aged 17 years or above, shall be eligible to vote in the popular consultation:
(a) persons born in East Timor,
(b) persons born outside East Timor but with at least one parent having been born in East Timor, and
(c) persons whose spouses fall under either of the two categories above.
D. Schedule of the consultation process (in overlapping time periods)
The schedule for the operational stages of the consultation process will be approximately as follows:
Operational planning/Deployment | 10 May-15 June |
Public information programme/ |
10 May - 5 August | |
Preparation and Registration | 13 June - 17 July |
Exhibition of lists and challenges/ |
18 July - 23 July | |
Political Campaign | 20 July - 5 August* |
Cooling off period | 6 August-7 August |
Polling Day | 8 August |
* Subject to revision
E. Operational Phases
a) Information Campaign
b) Registration
c) Campaign
d) Balloting in East Timor
e) Balloting outside East Timor
f) Observers
F. Funding
The Secretary-General will seek the approval of the Security Council for the operation in order to ensure assessed budgetary funding. Voluntary contributions will be channeled through a Trust Fund established for this purpose.
G. Security
The Indonesian authorities will ensure a secure environment for a free and fair popular consultation process and will be responsible for the security of United Nations personnel. A number of United Nations security guards will be deployed to ensure the security and safety of United Nations personnel and property. A number of international civilian police will be available in East Timor to advise the Indonesian Police during the operational phases of the popular consultation and, at the time of the consultation, to supervise the escort of ballot papers and boxes to and from polling sites.
DONE in New York on this 5th day of May, 1999.