Many have predicted that residents will choose independence over autonomy in a free and fair vote. Annan also signed two accords with Alatas and Gama detailing the organization of the referendum and security arrangements. Many fear that anti-independence militias, who have received some support from the Indonesian army, will conduct a violent campaign to intimidate voters. The Indonesian government will be in charge of security leading up to the vote, assisted by U.N. advisors, and a 600-strong U.N. mission will oversee the ballot. The United Nations reserves the right to call off the vote if minimum security and ballot requirements are not met.
Security is from now on the essential matter because without security there is no freedom of choice.
Militias remain armed Independence activists accuse the Indonesian military of continuing to arm and train anti-independence militias. Members of the anti-independence Timorese groups maintain they need to defend themselves against rebel troops after the Indonesian army withdrew some soldiers last August. During the U.N. talks, Alatas said his country could not guarantee the disarmament of the militias because many are based in the mountains. Regardless, independence activists want the ballot to go forward. But we still agree that it is a step forward to a solution.