500 TNI personnel from E.Timor return home<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): At least 500 Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel
\nwho were East Timorese natives voluntarily surrendered their
\nmilitary badges and returned to their homeland, a top military
\nchief said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Udayana Military Command Commander Maj. Gen. William da Costa
\ntalked to reporters after inspecting the construction of a
\ndormitory for troops in Ajendam.<\/p>\n
"I could not hold them back. It is their right to return to
\ntheir homeland and they should not be prevented," da Costa was
\nquoted as saying by Antara.<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Military had even encouraged them to return to
\nEast Timor rather than become refugees, da Costa said.<\/p>\n
He added that they were provided with allowances worth between
\nRp 9 million (US$934.6) and Rp 17 million ($1765.3) according to
\ntheir rank.<\/p>\n
Da Costa denied allegations that TNI had intentionally let
\nits native East Timorese members go due to problems concerning
\nloyalty. Da Costa said it was military policy to let the troops
\ndecide whether to stick with the Indonesian Military or to go
\nhome.<\/p>\n
"That would very much depend on their own choice," Da Costa
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Asked about the number of TNI troops who had already returned
\nto East Timor in addition to those who would follow in the steps
\nof the 500 troops, da Costa, himself a native of East Timor, said
\n"quite a lot".<\/p>\n
Da Costa Also added that along with the United Nations High
\nCommission on Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization on
\nMigration (IOM) and East Timor administrators of UNTAET, TNI had
\nalso encouraged East Timorese refugees who were sheltering in
\nEast Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to return to their homeland.<\/p>\n
At least 1,000 refugees who had been staying in Belu,
\nKafamenanu, Soe and Kupang returned home on Sept. 14, he said.<\/p>\n
Da Costa added that there would be another 1,000 refugees who
\nwould return to East Timor next month.<\/p>\n
He said he recalled that during the registration period, most
\nof the refugees who later decided to return to East Timor had
\nearlier opted to stay in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The registration for refugees had been going on for several
\nmonths and included the option for them to either return to East
\nTimor or to choose Indonesian citizenship.<\/p>\n
Da Costa said the TNI, UNHCR and IOM were briefing the
\nrefugees before allowing them to take the crucial decision of
\nwhether to return to East Timor or stay in Indonesia. (09)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/500-tni-personnel-from-etimor-return-home-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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