Government pledges to resettle refugees soon<\/p>\n
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): The government promised on
\nTuesday to relocate East Timor refugees sheltered in this
\nprovince in two months.<\/p>\n
Minister of Transmigration A.M. Hendro Priyono said here that
\ntransmigration areas across the province would be allotted for
\nthe East Timorese, who fled their homeland following the Aug. 30
\nself-determination ballot.<\/p>\n
\"They must be resettled as soon as possible in order not to
\ncause new problems for local residents or themselves,\" Hendro
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Hendro said the land designated for transmigration would be
\nable to accommodate some 100,000 people. The parcels of land are
\nscattered around West Timor and Sumba, Flores and Alor islands.<\/p>\n
\"If the exodus continues, we will seek new places outside the
\nprovince, for example in Maluku and Irian Jaya. The last two
\nprovinces are on paper and ready to welcome the refugees, who
\nwill only need to adapt themselves to the local culture,\" Hendro
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Along with Hendro, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
\nand Poverty Eradication Haryono Suyono, Minister of Agriculture
\nSholeh Solahudin, Minister of Public Works Rachmadi Bambang
\nSumadhijo and Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus visited some
\n5,000 families camping in refugee centers here.<\/p>\n
In response to Hendro's statement, Kupang Regent I.A. Medah
\nsaid the regency's capital of Sulemu, some 50 kilometers east of
\nhere, was ready to admit 50,000 refugees now taking shelter in
\ntown.<\/p>\n
\"There are numerous housing complexes which have not been
\ninhabited yet. Apart from houses, the local government will allow
\nthe refugees to use plots belonging to the local government,\"
\nMedah said.<\/p>\n
The number of refugees sheltered in nine regencies across this
\nprovince broke the 140,000 mark on Tuesday. Hundreds more were
\ncamping at El Tari Airport, waiting for evacuation to their
\nhometowns in Java.<\/p>\n
The refugees, along with the only goods they had left, packed
\nthe tunnel which leads to the airport's office. Some were asleep
\nwhen some 500 fellow refugees arrived from Baucau and Lospalos.<\/p>\n
Tears and hugs welcomed the latest batch of refugees, mostly
\nold women and children, who landed at the airport on Tuesday
\nmorning on a Hercules flight.<\/p>\n
Haryono told refugees residing at the NTT sports hall that the
\ngovernment would not prevent them from returning home if security
\nand order were restored.<\/p>\n
But a number of refugees opted to stay out of East Timor, at
\nleast for some time, citing the fear and terror they endured
\nalong the way to safety.<\/p>\n
\"I saw militia members and military troops kill priests and
\nnuns,\" a man who requested anonymity said. \"I will go back only
\nif the peacekeeping force comes and the Indonesian troops go,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Some refugees, meanwhile, are longing for home.<\/p>\n
\"I'm supportive of the autonomy offer, but I wish I could go
\nhome some day. Regardless of its new status as an independent
\nstate, East Timor is my beloved birthplace,\" said Joao Soares.<\/p>\n
He said he hoped the United Nations international troops could
\narrive as soon as possible and restore order.<\/p>\n
Another refugee, Maria Saldanha, concurred. \"I wish East Timor
\nreturns to normal, so that I can go home. The security situation
\nhas forced me to take refuge,\" she said.<\/p>\n
East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet Alexander Tallo, who
\naccompanied the five Cabinet ministers, reiterated his call on
\nlocal residents and refugees to exercise restraint, following
\nreports of arguments which had flared up between local youths and
\narmed East Timor prointegration militias.<\/p>\n
\"Local residents should understand the psychological burden of
\nthe refugees. On the other hand, the refugees should adjust
\nthemselves to local culture,\" Tallo said.<\/p>\n
Refugees outnumber the residents of Kupang and Atambua, and
\nresidents have raised complaints over the militia members who
\ndisplay guns in public places and sometimes fire shots.<\/p>\n
Chief of Udayana Military Command overseeing Nusa Tenggara,
\nBali and East Timor, Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, has pledged not to
\ntolerate a display of arms.<\/p>\n
In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna said the
\nprovince expects to receive 10,000 people fleeing from East
\nTimor, of which 6,000 are South Sulawesi natives who migrated to
\nthe former Portuguese colony.<\/p>\n
\"We don't mind accepting the East Timorese, no matter what
\nthey voted for in the August ballot,\" Palaguna said, adding that
\ninternational assistance was needed to help the province resettle
\nthe refugees.<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, 12 ambassadors of European Union countries told
\nPresident B.J. Habibie that their governments had pledged US$10
\nmillion worth of humanitarian assistance for the East Timorese
\nand were preparing an airdrop of food and emergency supplies in
\nthe territory.<\/p>\n
Hannu Himanen, the Finnish ambassador to Indonesia, told
\nreporters after the meeting at the State Palace that the aid
\npackage would be delivered through international organizations
\nunder the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and
\nlocal government-sanctioned social organizations.<\/p>\n
Himanen said the aid delivery would take place as soon as
\nsecurity was restored to East Timor. (yac\/30\/prb\/amd)<\/p>",
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