E. Timorese leave for Portugal<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Eight young East Timorese left Jakarta on an
\nAmsterdam-bound KLM flight last night to start a new life in
\nPortugal after their request for asylum was granted through the
\nDutch embassy.<\/p>\n
They had spent a day inside the Dutch embassy while The Hague
\nnegotiated for their passage out of the country.<\/p>\n
Lisbon agreed to take them soon after they entered the embassy
\nalthough The Hague was still considering their request.<\/p>\n
Their departure was assisted by the local representative of
\nthe International Commission of the Red Cross.<\/p>\n
\"They will leave this evening with the full consent of the
\nPortuguese authority and according to their wish,\" Iem G. Roos,
\nthe Dutch embassy's counselor for cultural and press affairs,
\ntold reporters in front of the embassy gate earlier.<\/p>\n
Official sources identified the eight asylum seekers as Ivan
\nManuel Soares (20), Nixon Alvez da Cruz (23), Jose Louis (20),
\nAntonio da Costa Rangel (21), Jose Fretas da Cruz (22), Alvaro
\nDedeos Martin (24), Jose De Leon (22) and Vazcodo da Concecau
\n(25).<\/p>\n
They forced their way into the Dutch embassy on Tuesday
\nafternoon in defiance of embassy security officers.<\/p>\n
Roos said the embassy gave the East Timorese food and shelter
\nduring their stay.<\/p>\n
Asked whether the Dutch government had rejected their plea for
\npolitical asylum, Roos said, \"I am not saying that. I am saying
\nthat this is a solution.\"<\/p>\n
\"My government is still studying the request. The solution has
\nbeen found in this arrangement,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denies the East Timorese's
\nclaim of political persecution.<\/p>\n
\"They are not political fugitives and are not under
\npersecution. If they wish to leave Indonesia, they are free to do
\nso,\" the ministry's Director of Foreign Information, Ghaffar
\nFadyl, told Antara.<\/p>\n
This is the fourth time in the last three years that young
\nEast Timorese have been granted asylum in Portugal by forcing
\ntheir way into an embassy in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Five used the British embassy in September, 29 used the
\nAmerican embassy in November last year, and seven occupied the
\nSwedish and Finnish embassies in July 1993. (01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timorese-leave-for-portugal-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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