A member of the U.N. volunteer team to monitor the referendum in East Timor next week called for a stronger international presence in the violence-ridden territory as the historic poll approaches.

At a report session Wednesday sponsored by a support group in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, Marilynn Kajioka, who returned from East Timor on Monday, expressed great anxiety over the security of the territory after next Monday's referendum, in which voters will choose either greater autonomy within Indonesia or independence.

"(Regardless of the result,) I am worried that a war might start after foreigners (monitoring the situation) pull out of the territory after the referendum," said Kajioka, 57.

According to recent reports, some elements on both sides have voiced the will to continue fighting if the ballot results fall short of their expectations.

Kajioka, an American who has lived in Japan for about 30 years, participated in an election-monitoring project organized by the International Federation for East Timor from June 29.

She traveled around the territory helping with logistics, such as securing accommodations for volunteer staff and serving as an interpreter in addition to monitoring activities.

The intimidation of locals by prointegration militia groups is prevalent, she said.

At one village, a militia leader ousted a chief and took control. When Kajioka visited the village, the leader showed off weapons he claimed were made in village facilities.

In Ainaro, in the western part of the territory, an international civilian police officer told her he actually saw the Indonesian Army provide the prointegration militias with weapons and training.

Although Kajioka said she did not experience any direct intimidation, she said a bus she was riding in was hijacked by a militia in the town of Liquica.

"It is really frustrating that we cannot really protect the East Timorese," Kajioka said, citing how locals were disappointed with the U.N. mission's passive attitude toward the militias' intimidatory actions.

"The best solution is that the Indonesian Army withdraw from the province. The Japanese government, as its biggest donor, has to use its clout on the Indonesian government," Kajioka said.