Refugees join resettlement program<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang<\/p>\n
With the deadline for the closure of refugee camps here
\ndrawing near, 121 East Timorese families have registered for the
\ngovernment-sponsored resettlement program.<\/p>\n
The head of the operation dealing with the refugees, Lt. Col.
\nPieter Lobo, said on Thursday the East Timorese families would be
\nresettled on Sumba island in East Nusa Tenggara.<\/p>\n
\"There is the possibility many other families will follow suit
\ngiven that the closing date for registration is drawing near,\"
\nPieter said.<\/p>\n
For the last two years, the government has been asking the
\nEast Timorese refugees who poured into East Nusa Tenggara in 1999
\nto choose between repatriation and resettlement. They have been
\ngiven until the end of December before the government closes down
\nthe refugee camps scattered across the province.<\/p>\n
An estimated 250,000 East Timorese fled their homes to escape
\nthe widespread violence that occurred after the territory voted
\nfor independence in a UN-administered referendum in 1999.<\/p>\n
The government has promoted the resettlement program through a
\nnumber of East Timorese leaders who have opted to retain their
\nIndonesian citizenship.<\/p>\n
\"We sent these figures to the refugee camps to persuade their
\nfellow East Timorese to join the resettlement program. The
\nfigures also are expected to inform their people about what their
\nnew homes will look like,\" Pieter said.<\/p>\n
A joint team comprising representatives of the UN High
\nCommissioner for Refugees and the local and central governments
\nvisited Sumba recently to observe the island's readiness to
\nreceive the East Timorese refugees.<\/p>\n
\"Hearing that people on the island will welcome the refugees,
\nwe will start transferring the East Timorese to the resettlement
\narea immediately,\" Pieter said.<\/p>\n
The government also has encouraged those who wish to return to
\nEast Timor by providing them with an incentive in the form of
\nChristmas and New Year's donations amounting to Rp 1.5 million
\n(US$165) per family.<\/p>\n
On Thursday, 21 more families left Kupang for their homes in
\nEast Timor.<\/p>\n
There are about 30,000 East Timorese refugees remaining in
\ncamps across East Nusa Tenggara. East Timor President Xanana
\nGusmao visited the refugees earlier this month to call on them to
\nreturn home.<\/p>",
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