Preparations for exodus continue in East Timor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Hundreds of trucks have in recent weeks been
\nmaking repeated trips between East Timor and neighboring East
\nNusa Tenggara on the western half of the island, transporting
\nhousehold goods belonging to people preparing to evacuate the
\nterritory.<\/p>\n
The trucks frequently stop at Batugade city in border regency
\nBobonaro, 138 kilometer west of Dili, the capital of East Timor.
\nThe Military Police chief in Bobonaro, Second Sgt. Supendi, said
\non Saturday that over the past week traffic had increased to as
\nmuch as 50 trucks per day.<\/p>\n
Antara reported that 26 trucks left Dili on Saturday afternoon
\nbound for East Nusa Tenggara cities of Atambua, Soe, Kefamenanu
\nand Kupang. Earlier in the month, an average of 15 trucks made
\nthe trip each day.<\/p>\n
A Dili resident said he paid Rp 600,000 for a truck to carry
\nhis belongings to Kupang. \"I will still return to Dili, until the
\ngovernment says East Timor is to be released, then I'll move
\npermanently,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Belu administration official Petrus Baluta Letor in
\nEast Nusa Tenggara said his regency was making preparations to
\nreceive refugees from East Timor.<\/p>\n
Atambua administration has received 55 families -- 187 people
\n-- from East Timor who had evacuated the troubled territory. The
\ncity administration was constructing shelters designed to
\naccommodate 5,000 people.<\/p>\n
Between Saturday and Monday, 95 resettlers left Covalima and
\nMaliana regencies in East Timor. They were expected to make a
\nstopover in Atambua before proceeding to Kupang, the capital of
\nEast Nusa Tenggara, and on to Denpasar in Bali.<\/p>\n
\"They did not flee, but returned to Bali for the Panca Wali Krama
\n(Hindu religious) ceremony on March 17. After that they will
\nreturn,\" a local Hindu community official was quoted by Antara as
\nsaying in Bali.<\/p>\n
But Balinese settler Made Lebah, while saying he would take
\npart in the ceremony, said he and his family would only go back
\nto East Timor when the situation in the former Portuguese colony
\nstabilized.<\/p>\n
\"Anyway, according to my parents, it is better to live in our
\nown hometown,\" said Made, who settled in Timor with his wife and
\nchildren 13 years ago.<\/p>\n
The report said the settlers were seen carrying plastic bags,
\nsleeping mats and stoves.<\/p>\n
Tensions have been rising in East Timor since President B.J.
\nHabibie announced on Jan. 27 that Indonesia would consider
\nindependence for the territory should its residents reject an
\noffer of broad autonomy. Groups in favor of or opposing
\nindependence have been consolidating their forces.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara quoted pro-integration leader Joao da Silva
\nTavares as saying in Bobonaro, East Timor, that thousands still
\nwanted to remain with Indonesia but they would not provoke a
\nfight with those who desired independence.<\/p>\n
\"Those who want integration also have the right to fight for
\ntheir aspiration,\" he said. \"No one, including the United
\nNations, can force their will on us.\"<\/p>\n
Tavares, who leads a group called Halilintar (Lightning),
\nclaimed to have 2,400 supporters in Atabae town, who were armed
\nwith basic weapons such as machetes, spears and arrows. \"The
\nPortuguese colony left around 25,000 weapons while the (anti-
\nIndonesia) Fretilin only has 200,\" he said. \"I don't need to say
\nhow many are in my hands.\"<\/p>\n
He rejected claims the group was supported by the Armed Forces
\n(ABRI). \"If necessary, tell ABRI to withdraw and let us go to
\nwar.\"<\/p>\n
However, \"If (jailed separatist rebel leader Alexander Xanana
\nGusmao) and his armed followers lay down their weapons, we will
\ndo the same thing and draw up within an hour a peace plan for the
\nEast Timorese.\"<\/p>\n
Members of a pro-integration group calling themselves Besi
\nMerah Putih (Red and White Iron) -- named for the Indonesian
\nflag's colors -- continued to patrol along Maubara road in
\nLiquica regency, about 38 kilometers west of Dili.<\/p>\n
Armed with machetes, spears and arrows, and wearing red-and-
\nwhite headbands, they clustered in small groups at intersections.
\n(swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/preparations-for-exodus-continue-in-east-timor-1447893297",
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