Sutiyoso promises shelter, jobs for integrationists<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso vowed on Wednesday to provide
\ntemporary shelter and employment for some 40 East Timorese
\nintegrationists who have been taking refuge at the House of
\nRepresentatives compound since last month.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso was responding to the refugees' plea to the governor
\nto help them earn a decent living and assist their struggle for
\nthe return of East Timor to Indonesia.<\/p>\n
\"If you stay in such poor conditions, it will only tarnish
\nyour image. I hope you will trust me and let me find you a
\ntemporary shelter,\" he told the refugees while visiting the House
\ncompound.<\/p>\n
The visit made at the invitation of the House Secretariat,
\nwhich was seeking help in dealing with the refugees.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said he would contact his friends about providing
\njobs for the refugees. \"You must work to support yourselves here.
\nOnly then will you be able to fight for your aspirations.<\/p>\n
\"But you must promise that you will work hard at any position
\ngiven to you,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The governor said he had a special relationship with East
\nTimor because he served there as a captain in the Army's Special
\nForce (Kopassus). \"I fought hand in hand with prointegration
\nfighters. I explored all the regions of East Timor during my
\nservice there,\" he told the refugees.<\/p>\n
\"I even put Dilliyanti, derived from East Timor's capital
\nDili, in my eldest daughter's name. She was born when I was still
\nserving there,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The leader of the refugees, Alex Hafoni, told Sutiyoso there
\nwere 40 East Timorese taking refuge in the House compound. \"We
\nare looking for support from the legislators here because we
\nstill regard ourselves as Indonesians. We have been here for
\nabout one month,\" Alex, who came from Dili, said.<\/p>\n
He said they represented about 150,000 East Timorese refugees
\nin East Nusa Tenggara who wanted to return to East Timor and live
\non their own land.<\/p>\n
\"We need houses and land to cultivate. We don't have enough
\nfood for all of us here and rely on donations. Sometimes we eat
\nonce a day.<\/p>\n
\"Such hardship, however, won't cause us to retract our
\nallegiance to the republic,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Another refugee, Edgar van Erickson from Los Palos, aired his
\nhope that East Timor would return to Indonesia. \"I've been told
\nmy grandfather, a former regent of Los Palos, fought side by side
\nwith Komandan Gubernur (Sutiyoso) in the early days of the
\nintegration,\" he told the governor.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, I remember fighting side by side with your grandfather.
\nYou must be brave and don't let him down,\" Sutiyoso responded.<\/p>\n
East Timor integrated with Indonesia in December 1975.
\nHowever, the majority of East Timorese voted in a UN-sponsored
\nballot on Aug. 30, 1999, to separate from Indonesia and establish
\nan independent country.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso then told Edgar he could become a television star. \"I
\nthink Edgar is fit to be an actor in a sinetron (television
\ndrama). I'm sure you can beat out Pedro Carrascalao.\"<\/p>\n
Pedro is the son of former East Timor governor Mario Viegas
\nCarrascalao, who fled to Portugal ahead of the 1999 ballot while
\nstill a member of Indonesia's Supreme Advisory Council.<\/p>\n
Two other refugees, Marjon Leirima of Liquica and Sipri Babu
\nof Los Palos, told journalists they would accept any jobs given
\nthem by Sutiyoso.<\/p>\n
\"Without a school diploma, I don't think I can get a good job.
\nAt least I will be able to support myself,\" said Marjon.<\/p>\n
\"I won't choose the type of work. It will be just fine if I
\ncan be a security guard or a factory worker,\" added Sipri.<\/p>\n
Before departing, Sutiyoso learned the refugees were having
\nrice and green beans for lunch. The governor gave Alex Rp 500,000
\n(US$53), saying, \"Here, buy some decent lunch for your men.\"<\/p>\n
The governor then returned to City Hall with Alex, Edgar and
\nanother refugee, Lorenzo Elio, in his car, leaving his aide,
\nTeguh, to return in another vehicle. (nvn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-promises-shelter-jobs-for-integrationists-1447893297",
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