Balinese reach out to E. Timorese refugees
Balinese reach out to E. Timorese refugees
By I Wayan Juniarta
DENPASAR, Bali (JP): The flamboyant sociologist, Putu Suasta,
and dozens of volunteers, artists, scholars and students sit on
the floor packing bags of instant noodles, rice, sugar and other
staple foods in a stuffy warehouse in Sanur Raya, Denpasar.
There are no more nights at the cozy cafes or other
entertainment hangouts where they used to spend their leisure
time, these people grouped in Kelompok Kerja Sembako are now busy
seeking donations to help East Timorese refugees who have fled
their mother island to Bali.
Kelompok Kerja Sembako comprises Balinese intellectual groups,
students, artists and foreign volunteers. Among the group's
members are Jais Hadiana Dargawijaya, owner of the Darga Gallery,
poet and writer Ruscitadewi, sociologist Putu Suasta and Chinese
businessman Christianto Tjahyadi.
Every night, members of this group gather at the warehouse to
pack bags of staple foods, blankets, clothes and other goods to
be sent to hundreds of East Timorese refugees and Balinese
transmigrants who fled East Timor.
In a corner of the small warehouse, Suasta and other
volunteers are preparing hundreds of plastic bags containing five
kilograms of rice, soap, ketchup, two kilograms of sugar, etc.
In another part of the room nine American students and their
professor Lawri Billington are working hard to fill rice bags.
The American students from the School for International Training
Program in Bali are enthusiastically joining in the aid work.
The establishment of Kelompok Kerja Sembako clearly
illustrates solidarity among people from different walks of life
in Bali. They work hand in hand to help the thousands of East
Timorese refugees who have flocked to the holiday island of Bali
since the August ballot.
There are many more charity groups in Bali which are making
real efforts to assist the unfortunate East Timorese. Among the
groups are the Bali Hati Foundation, SKAL international Hotel
professionals, Rotary, the Bali International Women's
Association, Forum Merah Putih, the Indonesian Legal Aid
Foundation (YLBHI) Bali office, the Bali Art Bishop office, as
well as scholars and individuals who are pitching in their time
and energy.
"We have received a huge amount of donations -- money, staple
foods and other goods -- from expatriates living in Bali," said
Debe Campbell, president of SKAL Bali.
Campbell also said the organization has received many generous
donations, as well as other forms of assistance from foreigners
and hotel business people in Bali.
"Unlike Balinese transmigrants, East Timorese refugees receive
little attention from the local government, the community and the
local media," said a source from YLBHI.
He also said the refugees must be treated carefully because
many people, including security people, are still suspicious of
the newcomers.
Moreover, many East Timorese refugees are suffering from
traumatic experiences.
"Some unknown people frequently visit the camps while sweeping
and searching for proindependence refugees," he said.
To help the refugees, the charity organizations in Bali obtain
funds and donations in various ways. YLBHI, for instance, uses
the Internet to collect donations worldwide, while Forum Merah
Putih held an art auction selling numerous paintings and other
art collections. Kelompok Sembako has asked individuals to
provide financial assistance.
But the organizations are now facing serious problems in
distributing donations properly to the targeted refugees.
Data from the provincial government reveals there are 2,000
Balinese who returned to the island from East Timor, while YLBHI
states that East Timorese refugees number around the 1,000 mark.
The existing data remains inaccurate because the refugees have
not registered with local government authorities. In addition,
they are spread throughout the province's nine regencies
including Tabanan, Karangasem and Buleleng. Some of them are
staying in government buildings, relatives and friends' houses or
have been set up in temporary tents and other housing.
"It is important to cross-check data with the involved charity
organizations to correctly distribute the assistance," said Forum
Merah Putih chairman Suasta.
Suasta said some organizations, such as SKAL, YLBHI, the
Denpasar Art Bishop, Kelompok Sembako and Forum Merah Putih had
set up a tight network.
Keeping up the flow of donations is another crucial problem
facing the charity organization.
Most members are still uncertain whether they can provide
long-term assistance to these evacuees. Many of them, especially
the Balinese transmigrants, have refused to be relocated to other
transmigration settlement areas in Sumbawa, Sulawesi or
Kalimantan.
The local government must find employment and new housing
facilities for them and has considered providing state land to
the Balinese transmigrants. The Gianyar regency has given various
assistance such as working tools and cattle to help them begin
their lives again.
Lawyer Ngurah Karyadi said the local government must
immediately carry out crash programs to help the refugees and
Balinese transmigrants.
"We are racing against time. A lot of the refugees are
reluctant to stay at their relative's house or bale banjar
(public hall) because they are too embarrassed to ask for help
from the community," explained Karyadi.
"Give us work," pleaded one refugee.
Local lawyers, including Wayan Sudirtha, Sony Qodri, Agus
Samijaya and Victor Yaved Neno, plan to ask the central
government to provide adequate compensation to refugees who left
their belongings in East Timor.
These dedicated individuals, professionals and organizations
are now working hand in hand to ensure a better future for the
refugees. Whatever the results may be, their hard work has
certainly proved that there are many kindhearted people in Bali
who are willing to share their happiness with their brothers and
sisters from East Timor.
"It is relieving to see sincere smiles shining from their
weary and fearful faces," said Suasta after delivering food
packages to a refugee camp in the Lebih village near Denpasar.