Despite a campaign marked by violence and intimidation, 90 per cent of the electorate of East Timor turned out yesterday to take part in a hugely successful referendum, which is widely expected to lead to independence after 24 years of Indonesian occupation.
While largely peaceful, voting was marred by a number of violent incidents, including the stabbing to death of an East Timorese worker for the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNA MET) which organised the popular consultation in which people were asked to decide between autonomy and independence.
"Today the eagle of liberty has spread its proud wings over the people of East Timor, and nothing will chase it away," said Mr Jamsheed Marker, personal representative on East Timor of UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan.
UN officials were clearly delighted with the success of the turnout at 850 polling booths across the mostly mountainous territory. Long lines formed hours before the polls opened at 6.30 a.m. as people seized the opportunity to change the course of East Timor's troubled history.
Some 438,000 people were eligible to vote in the former Portuguese colony and another 14,000 exiles at special polling stations abroad, in the consultation, which gave East Timorese an opportunity to return to the independence they briefly enjoyed before Indonesia's 1975 invasion and subsequent annexation.
The polling boxes will be opened today at a counting centre in Dili and the result is expected within three to five days.
Mr Ian Martin, head of UNA MET, praised the dignity and courage of the East Timorese people and paid a special tribute to the often-criticised Indonesian police responsible for security.
"The East Timorese people defied poverty, distance, climate, terrain and in some cases dark intimidation in order to exercise their God-given right," Mr Martin told a packed press conference after polls had closed.
The most serious incident of he day occurred when a pro-Indonesian mob attacked a UN worker, Mr Lopez Gomes (49), in the town of Ermera, near Dili, where earlier a local female official employed by UNAMET had to be rescued from an abusive crowd by Finnish election observers.
Another violent incident on the outskirts of Dili was witnessed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews. Several militia members with guns appeared to be roughing up a pro-independence activist who was bleeding profusely from the mouth, just as a small convoy carrying Irish Government observers passed by under police escort. The police did not stop.
The Portuguese President, Mr Jorge Sampaio, telephoned Mr Andrews in Dili to congratulate Ireland in taking the lead in Europe on East Timor. Mr Andrews, who will meet the Indonesian President, Mr B.J. Habibie, tomorrow in Jakarta, was in Dili as the personal representative of the EU presidency, currently held by Finland.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, had asked Mr Andrews to brief him on the poll and the Minister for Foreign Affairs reached him at Croke Park on Sunday during the minor football match between Dublin and Down.