§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made towards voter registration in East Timor in preparation for the referendum on 8 August. [88321]
§ Mr. HoonThe Chief Electoral Officer of UNAMET has arrived in East Timor and a public information campaign has been launched in preparation of the UK organised consultation. Voter registration will begin once UNAMET is fully deployed. The date of the ballot has been put back by two weeks.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the United Nations Security Council on violence in East Timor. [88319]
§ Mr. HoonWe have played an active role at the United Nations Security Council, piloting two Security Council Resolutions (1236 and 1246) on East Timor. These Resolutions take note of recent violence in East Timor and commit the Indonesian Government to maintaining peace and security in the territory.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received concerning intimidation and displacement of the population in East Timor. [88320]
§ Mr. HoonWe have received reports that militia groups in East Timor have carried out acts of violence against civilians and continue to exercise an intimidatory influence in some parts of the territory. Since the arrival of UNAMET personnel in Dili and Baucau, the security situation in those towns has improved dramatically. We expect the security situation in the rest of East Timor to improve once UNAMET is fully deployed.
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§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has received from(a) non-governmental organisations and (b) others about the security situation in East Timor. [88341]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 28 June 1999]: We have recently received a large number of letters from non-governmental organisations, parliamentarians and members of the public making representations about the security situation in East Timor.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the human rights situation in East Timor. [88345]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 28 June 1999]: We remain concerned at the human rights situation in East Timor. We have repeatedly urged the leadership of the Indonesian Armed Forces to disarm and curb the activities of the militias responsible for much of the recent violence in the territory. We have also called on all sides to show utmost restraint.
§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contribution Her Majesty's Government have made to the UN Assistance Mission to East Timor; and if he will make a statement. [88357]
§ Mr. Hoon[holding answer 28 June 1999]: We have despatched seven British police officers with UN Bosnia experience to East Timor. They arrived on 21 June and formed part of the first contingent of the Civilian Police component of UNAMET. We are also planning to send two Military Liaison Officers to the territory. Our contribution to UNAMET is in addition to our US$1 million contribution to the United Nations Trust Fund for East Timor.