E. Timorese seek political asylum<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Eight East Timorese youths forced their way into
\nthe Dutch Embassy shortly after noon yesterday and asked that
\nthey be given political asylum by the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
Dutch Ambassador Paul Reitze Brower confirmed to The Jakarta
\nPost by phone last night that the eight youths have asked for
\nasylum, citing political persecution.<\/p>\n
Ambassador Brower declined to disclose their names.<\/p>\n
\"We are now studying their applications,\" he said. \"We will
\ngive an answer as soon as possible.\"<\/p>\n
Brower added that he had already contacted The Hague, which
\nwill determine whether or not to grant the political asylum
\nstatus.<\/p>\n
Reuter news agency reported yesterday that a minor scuffle
\noccurred at the embassy' gate when the eight East Timorese forced
\ntheir way into the embassy compound.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday quickly deplored the
\nasylum seekers' claim that they were being persecuted.<\/p>\n
\"They (asylum seekers) are using political reasons to have
\ntheir applications met. There are no reasons for them to seek
\nasylum because they have never been under pressure, tortured, or
\nwanted by the security authorities,\" Ghaffar Fadyl, the Director
\nfor Foreign Information, told The Post by phone.<\/p>\n
Ghaffar, who also declined to disclose the names of the
\nTimorese, said he believed the youths were simply having economic
\ndifficulties.<\/p>\n
This is the fourth time in the last two years that young East
\nTimorese have forced their way into a foreign embassy seeking
\npolitical asylum. In all three incidents, each eventually
\nreceived asylum from Portugal, the former colonial ruler in East
\nTimor.<\/p>\n
Five of them went to Lisbon courtesy of the British embassy
\nlast Sept. 29 after occupying the parking grounds of the American
\nembassy in November last year, and seven courtesy of the Swedish
\nand Finnish embassies in July 1993. (rms)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/e-timorese-seek-political-asylum-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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