This announcement was made yesterday by Indonesian president Habibie. International observers will be present during the elections which are sponsored by the United Nations. Bishop Carlos Ximenes of East Timor, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, also supports the process of self-determination. In fact, it was in the Bishop's residence that the peace agreement was signed recently between the leaders favoring independence and the pro-Indonesia paramilitary leaders. Moreover, the president of Indonesia stated that he accepts in their totality the independence proposals agreed by Indonesia and Portugal, at a meeting sponsored by the United Nations.
Analysts believe that the majority of the people favor independence.
The concern at present is that the process of self-determination be carried out peacefully. But, there is no guarantee that the referendum will resolve the critical situation. On the contrary, there are fears that acts of violence will be exacerbated, Lopes da Cruz said, who is the representative of the Jakarta government in East Timor. They will, of course, consider the U.N. envoys as enemies and will fight them with all their might. The event was organized by the Faculty of Communication of the Holy Cross Pontifical University.