Dili – The Indonesian military continues to support militias that are harassing and intimidating East Timorese ahead of an independence vote, an agency headed by former US President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday.

"The Carter Center is particularly concerned by clear evidence ... of Indonesian military and government support of pro-integration groups," said the Carter Center in a report.

The Atlanta-based Carter Center is observing the UN-organized August 30 vote, in which the East Timorese will be asked to choose between independence and integration with Indonesia.

The center said that although they had received some reports of intimidation by pro-independence groups, "Primary responsibility for the creation of a general climate of fear and intimidation in East Timor rests with the pro-integration militias."

The center said that although security seemed to have improved over recent weeks, that may have been because the militias had changed their tactics.

"Militia groups now maintain a lower profile, operate primarily at night and concentrate their activities in less accessible areas, but their threats and messages of intimidation remain largely unchanged," the report said.

The report also expressed concern that the voters had not been fully informed of what they will be expected to decide at the end of the month.

"The center is still concerned that not enough has been done to ensure that the people of East Timor clearly understand all the phases of the consultation process," it said.