CHOOSING SIDES

August 30, 1999
		After 23 years of Indonesian rule, the people of East Timor go to the polls to decide whether to remain a province or to strike out on their own. After this background report, Jim Lehrer discusses the situation in East Timor with two experts.

Online NewsHour Special Report: East Timor Independence Online Backgrounder: Behind East Timor's conflict with Indonesia. Oct. 25, 1996: Online Forum: Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos-Horta responds to viewer questions. June 2, 1998: Indonesia attempts to form a democratic government. May 22, 1998: A discussion on changes in the Indonesian government. May 21, 1998: Indonesia in the wake of Suharto's resignation. May 20, 1998: Should Suharto resign? May 19, 1998: Suharto announces plans to step down. May 15, 1998: A report on the riots in Jakarta. May 14, 1998: Students protest against Suharto. March 10, 1998: A discussion on Indonesia's economic importance. Feb. 27, 1998: Can Indonesia restore confidence in its currency? Jan. 9, 1998: Indonesia's stock markets take a tumble. Nov. 13, 1996: A discussion with Jose Ramos-Horta. Oct. 11, 1996: Two East Timorese dissidents win the Nobel Peace Prize. Browse the NewsHour's coverage of Asia.   United Nations Mission in East Timor Indonesian Embassy in Washington National Council of Timorese Resistance U.S. Embassy in Jakarta Carter Center	KWAME HOLMAN: For the people of East Timor, the last few weeks have been a period of violence and suffering... and celebration. For the first time in more than 400 years, residents here may be on the verge of forming an independent state, and ending a generation of civil war. COMMANDER ULAR, Falintil Pro-Independence Group: (speaking through interpreter) Today is a great day for us and for our people. This is another step closer to bring peace to our people. We want peace in our lives as East Timorese people. KWAME HOLMAN: The Eastern half of this Southeast Asian island was a colony of Portugal dating back to the 1500's. The Western portion was part of the Netherlands until the end of World War II, when it became a part of the newly established Republic of Indonesia. On the Eastern side, however, Portuguese colonial rule lasted until 1975. But when the Europeans left, Indonesia invaded. A year later, majority Muslim Indonesia took control of predominantly Catholic East Timor. It has been a bloody occupation. An estimated 200,000 East Timorese have died under the Indonesians; 10,000 directly from military force, the rest from famine and disease. Over the years, many have supported secession from Indonesia, including a band of rebel guerrillas that's been fighting the pro-Jakarta army for more than 20 years; dissidents Jose Ramos-Horta and Bishop Carlos Belo, co- recipients of the 1996 Nobel peace prize for their peaceful pursuit of self-determination; and the United Nations, which never has recognized Indonesia's annexation of East Timor. Earlier this year, following heavy diplomatic pressure, Indonesian President B.J. Habibie scheduled a U.N.-sponsored referendum that would let the people of East Timor vote on secession. But that sparked an angry reaction from militia groups who want East Timor to remain part of Indonesia.
	A divided country
	ILIDIO BATISTA, Commander of Militia: (speaking through interpreter) After we found out that Indonesia was talking about independence, a lot of groups of pro-independence supporters were starting to terrorize us. But we are all here now ready to stand against them in the civil war. We are ready to die for Indonesia. KWAME HOLMAN: In the months leading up to today's referendum, the militias have attacked East Timorese civilians in their homes and in the streets. They tried to intimidate voters, according to one woman who chose to remain anonymous. WOMAN: (speaking through interpreter) They said that if you choose independence, your children won't go to school anymore. MAN: (speaking through interpreter) There's terror everywhere, killing, arrests. Let me say this: East Timor is like hell. KWAME HOLMAN: Last week, as more than 10,000 people demonstrated for independence, clashes with militia groups broke out. At least six people died. Nevertheless, today's vote went ahead. By day's end, some 90 percent of East Timor's 430,000 registered voters took to the polls. That included 13,000 living abroad, notably Jose Ramos- Horta, the Nobel Laureate. And despite the death of the East Timorese U.N. monitor who was attacked and stabbed by an unidentified mob, U.N. workers described the referendum as free and fair. JAMSHEED MARKER, U.N. Special Envoy: Today the eagle of liberty has spread its proud wings over the people of East Timor. IAN MARTIN, U.N. Assistance Mission in East Timor: It's clear we've had a very high turnout indeed. We've only had a very small number of polling centers where we had some local security problems that led us to close centers, but in most cases briefly and they all reopened. KWAME HOLMAN: U.N. officials will spend the next week counting and verifying the ballots. Later this year, the collective will of the people of East Timor is scheduled to be ratified by Indonesia's parliament.