500 TNI members of East Timorese origin return home

500 TNI members of East Timorese origin return home

JAKARTA (JP): At least 500 Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel
who were East Timorese natives voluntarily surrendered their
military badges and returned to their homeland, a top military
chief said on Tuesday.

Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Willem da Costa talked to
reporters after inspecting the construction of a dormitory for
troops in Ajendam.

"I could not hold them back. It is their right to return to
their homeland and they should not be prevented," da Costa was
quoted as saying by Antara.

The Indonesian Military had even encouraged them to return to
East Timor rather than become refugees, da Costa said.

He added that they were provided with allowances worth between
Rp 9 million (US$934.6) and Rp 17 million ($1765.3) according to
their rank.

Da Costa denied allegations that TNI had intentionally let
its native East Timorese members go due to problems concerning
loyalty. Da Costa said it was military policy to let the troops
decide whether to stick with the Indonesian Military or to go
home.

"That would very much depend on their own choice," Da Costa
said.

Asked about the number of TNI troops who had already returned
to East Timor in addition to those who would follow in the steps
of the 500 troops, da Costa, himself a native of East Timor, said
"quite a lot".

Da Costa Also added that along with the United Nations High
Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization on
Migration (IOM) and East Timor administrators of UNTAET, TNI had
also encouraged East Timorese refugees who were sheltering in
East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) to return to their homeland.

At least 1,000 refugees who had been staying in Belu,
Kafamenanu, Soe and Kupang returned home on Sept. 14, he said.

Da Costa added that there would be another 1,000 refugees who
would return to East Timor next month.

He said he recalled that during the registration period, most
of the refugees who later decided to return to East Timor had
earlier opted to stay in Indonesia.

The registration for refugees had been going on for several
months and included the option for them to either return to East
Timor or to choose Indonesian citizenship.

Da Costa said the TNI, UNHCR and IOM were briefing the
refugees before allowing them to take the crucial decision of
whether to return to East Timor or stay in Indonesia. (09)