Peacekeepers tighten security ahead of Timor poll

Security forces are keen to build confidence ahead of the vote

By CNN's Joe Havely in Maliana, East Timor

MALIANA, East Timor (CNN) -- Members of the Australian peacekeeping force in East Timor staged a dramatic show of force Sunday designed to boost confidence ahead of the territory’s first democratic vote later this week.

The rapid deployment exercise in the town of Maliana, close to the border with Indonesian West Timor, involved more than a hundred UN troops and a dozen armored vehicles backed up by helicopter support.

It was an impressive display intended to reassure local residents that any threat of violence that might disrupt Thursday’s historic poll would be dealt with quickly and efficiently.

The election will determine the make-up of an 88-member constituent assembly, which will have 90 days to draw up a constitution forming the basic law of the future nation.

The simulation involved fully armed troops sweeping into town by air and road, arresting a suspected militia member, and flying him out of the area by helicopter.

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“We want to show to show people here what we can do to create a safe environment for voting,” said Major Paul McKay of the 4th Australian Battalion based in East Timor’s border region.

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“We’re here to give the community confidence -- to say ‘yes you can vote, yes you can come out and start making your nation.’”

Rebels into soldiers

Working alongside the Australians were four members of the newly formed East Timor Defence Force -- former guerillas of the Falintil rebel movement who are now forming the core of what will become East Timor’s army.

“In the future we will have to defend our people against bad elements,” said Lieutenant Renilde Cortereal, a former guerilla and one of the first recruits to the new force.

“That may come from among our own people or from outside.”

Despite the noise and clouds of dust thrown up by the helicopters, most residents said they were glad to have the troops in town.

Stallholder Lydia Dos Santo says she feels safer with the peacekeeping forces in town

“It makes us feel safe,” said market stallholder Lydia Dos Santos. “I am happy because they are here to help us. I hope they will be around for a long time.”

The 22-year-old mother of two was one of hundreds of Maliana residents forced to flee her home when pro-Indonesian militias went on the rampage following the 1999 vote on independence from Indonesia, attacking the UN compound and laying waste to much of the town.

She says she spent two months in the mountains, living off leaves, berries and other wild food, too afraid to go back to the town.

When she eventually did return she found her home had been burned to the ground and all her possessions either stolen or destroyed.

Like many East Timorese she was forced to start again from scratch, setting up a market stall which, to this day, is also her home.

Despite that she says the sacrifice she and others made was worth it to achieve independence.

Calls for peace

The exercise forms training for new recruits into the East Timor Defence Force

Fears of a reprisal of the violence of two years ago have so far not been realized, but in many areas of the territory, particularly close to the Indonesian border, tensions remain high.

“We’re looking forward to a peaceful day -- with any luck we should have a great election,” said one soldier with the Australian battalion.

Nonetheless the prospect of trouble remains uppermost in the minds of officials and those urging East Timorese to exercise their newfound democratic rights on Thursday.

On Sunday Independence leader Xanana Gusmao made an emotional call for tolerance during the final days of campaigning, urging all parties to respect the outcome of Thursday’s vote.

Speaking at a political rally in the capital, Dili, he said the poll should not be an excuse for violence between political rivals and called on the future government to adopt a policy of reconciliation between pro-Indonesia groups and supporters of independence.

“Choose in such a way that we do not spill blood on our hands again,” he told the crowd in Dili’s municipal sports stadium.

Gusmao’s statement came a day after he ended months of speculation announcing that he would be running for president, largely as a result of pressure from the political parties contesting the upcoming poll.

The announcement was warmly welcomed by other political figures in the territory and the UN, but among East Timorese themselves the reaction was more muted -- not because he lacks support, but because few ever thought he would not be the country’s first president.

Ask virtually anyone here who they want as leader and you get one answer -- ‘Xanana! Xanana!’