EAST TIMOR: DILI: INDEPENDENCE VOTE: FAMILIES

Описание: (29 Aug 1999) Indonesian/Nat

Political careers and business deals hinge on the results of Monday's consultation vote in East Timor.

But the average citizen has more basic concerns - concerns about the safety of their lives and their livelihoods.

APTN spoke with three families with various views on what past East Timor should choose for its future.

In the capital of Dili, people on opposite sides of the independence issue pass each other every day on the way home from work.

And unlike the impressions people have of the violence in East Timor, most live together peacefully.

They each have their own reasons for supporting independence from or union with Indonesia.

They disagree despite having the same Roman Catholic Portuguese colonial heritage.

Joao Baptista Dos Santos sees the choice as a simple geographical reality.

He believes his people really come from the same blood as the people on the neighbouring islands.

SOUNDBITE: (BAHASA INDONESIA)
"This is not an option because autonomy is the real choice. Since the beginning, East Timor have already integrated with Indonesia."
SUPER CAPTION: Joao Baptista Dos Santos, pro-Indonesia supporter

Joao does have one big concern to motivate him toward integration in that he is a government employee.

SOUNDBITE: (BAHASA INDONESIA)
"We will have to accept the consequence of the result of the vote. I was a Portuguese soldier and when East Timor integrated with Indonesia, I quit and had to try and find a new job."
SUPER CAPTION: Joao Baptista Dos Santos, pro-Indonesia supporter

Ananias Pires Da Piedade also leans toward supporting integration for business reasons.

He realizes that Indonesian money has helped create what little development the island has.

However, he claims he has not firmly made up his mind on which way to vote and openly admires some of the leaders on the independence side.

But he believes a vote for independence will boost the stature of Xanana Gusmao, the jailed rebel leader.

SOUNDBITE: (Bahasa Indonesia)
"I feel that if the pro-Independence people win the vote, a person who has a soul like Xanana can be the leader."
SUPER CAPTION: Ananias Pires Da Piedade, businessman

Antonio Da Silva Alves also likes the prospects for Xanana Gusmao.

He would like to see East Timor stand on its own two feet and build a future independent of Jakarta.

As a basic day labourer, he wants to see the economy move more swiftly than it has under Indonesian leadership.

Despite supporting independence, he admits that Indonesia has done many good things for the territory.

SOUNDBITE: (Temen (local dialect))
"For twenty-three years the Indonesian government has done many things such as build elementary schools, high schools, and good roads to 13 districts in East Timor."
SUPER CAPTION: Antonio Da Silva Alves, pro-independence supporter

SOUNDBITE: (Temen (local dialect))
"If the pro-independence movement wins we will make a party with all the family members because we will be free."
SUPER CAPTION: Antonio Da Silva Alves, pro-independence supporter

Many are turning to prayer as they hope for a peaceful and democratic process.

Voting takes place on Monday.

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