They threatened to return with more militiamen and destroy the Balibo 1 and Balibo 2 registration centres. Consequently, the centres were temporarily closed. Just hours after the visit, local militiamen burned down the homes of at least five people who had gone to register in Hatolia. An Australian CivPol was injured. Further military forces have been positioned along the border.
Soldiers now go around in civilian clothing.
Soldiers are positioned in all villages, in spite of assurances given by the Indonesian Government that they would be withdrawn. Carter Center observers witnessed soldiers and militiamen communicating with each other via two-wave radio equipment. Civilians in Indonesia are not allowed to use such equipment. Mrs. Carina Perelli, head of the UN's Electoral Services, announced that the results of the registration period had surpassed the UN's expectations. In many of the centres, all potential voters had already registered.