Boat people used private boat

DILI, East Timor: A local official has denied reports that the 18 East Timorese who sought refuge in Australia last week traveled to the neighboring country on a boat owned by the government.

Provincial fishery office chief Joao CRP Freitas said that the people used their own fishing boat -- not, as reported by some media, a craft provided by the government under an assistance program.

"If it is true that the boat people used a boat with the number '035', that means the boat was painted to look like one from the government," Freitas said. He added that not one of the 18 boat people were fishermen.

Foreign ministry Director of Information Irawan Abidin said the reports on the asylum bid were a media ploy intended to embarrass Jakarta just before the commencement, last Friday, of the All Inclusive East Timor Dialog in Austria. Irawan noted that, while the boat people claimed to be victims of torture, Australian authorities had said they were in good health. (anr)