More Timorese reach embassy<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Nine East Timorese jumped over the fence of the
\nAustralian embassy on Wednesday evening, the second break-in at
\nthe mission on Jl. Rasuna Said in less than a month.<\/p>\n
The Australian Embassy spokeswoman, Joanne Eyre, said
\nyesterday that the seven men and two women had scaled the embassy
\nwalls at around 11:00 p.m. on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
"When they arrived last night they indicated that they would
\nlike to talk to embassy officials," Eyre said, adding that
\ndiscussions were still going on.<\/p>\n
She could not say whether the East Timorese had demanded
\npolitical asylum as was the case with the earlier break in.<\/p>\n
On Jan. 10 two East Timorese women entered the embassy and
\nasked for political asylum. They left for Lisbon just two days
\nlater.<\/p>\n
Although Australia has formally recognized the 1976
\nintegration of the former Portuguese colony with Indonesia, it
\nhas been one of the staunchest critics of Indonesian policies and
\nhuman rights abuses in East Timor.<\/p>\n
As well as the Australian embassy, the French, Polish and New
\nZealand embassies have also been the targets of East Timor asylum
\nseekers. All 23 of them settled for Lisbon after their initial
\nrequest for asylum to the embassy's home country was rejected.<\/p>\n
The government has denounced the requests for asylum as
\npublicity stunts, and as a way of obtaining free tickets to
\nPortugal. It also said that none of the East Timorese were being
\npersecuted and that they were all free to leave. (mds)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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