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.