E. Timor refugees demand compensation<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang<\/p>\n
Hundreds of displaced persons from East Timor taking refuge in
\nEast Nusa Tenggara province demanded on Monday that the central
\ngovernment compensate them with Rp 263 billion (US$26.3 million)
\nfor the assets they left behind in East Timor following the 1999
\nautonomy plebiscite.<\/p>\n
The displaced persons of East Nusa Tenggara origin raised
\ntheir demands in a protest outside the provincial council
\nbuilding on Monday ahead of the ending of their status as
\ndisplaced persons as of Dec. 31 of this year.<\/p>\n
In their statements, read by Imanuel Ndun, the coordinator
\nhandling displaced persons' assets in East Timor, now known as
\nTimor Leste, the protesters called on President Susilo Bambang
\nYudhoyono not to forget his campaign promises, including not to
\nabandon displaced persons from Timor Leste or their possessions.<\/p>\n
\"At that time (of the election), he said that if he was
\nelected the President, he would pay attention to our assets like
\nhouses, land, vehicles and important documents, but he hasn't,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Some 14,000 families of East Nusa Tenggara origin are now
\nliving in the province as displaced persons.<\/p>\n
According to Imanuel, the total amount of assets left behind
\nduring the period of communal violence that followed the UN-
\nsponsored plebiscite in September 1999 was more than Rp 1.62
\ntrillion. This estimate, he added, was made on the basis that all
\nthe assets had been destroyed by fire, plus what remained after
\nthe plebiscite.<\/p>\n
Head of East Nusa Tenggara provincial administration's social
\nservices office, Frans Salem, said the administration has worked
\nto meet the demands of the displaced persons but was hampered by
\nforeign diplomacy problems.<\/p>\n
\"Governor Piet A. Tallo has conveyed the compensation matter
\nto the central government,\" he said, adding that all policies
\nrelated to displaced persons fell under the authority of the
\ncentral government, not the provincial administration.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timor-refugees-demand-compensation-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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