Civilian guards demand compensation

Civilian guards demand compensation

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Hundreds of former East Timor
civilian guards staged a protest for a second consecutive day on
Tuesday in front of the East Nusa Tenggara gubernatorial office,
demanding the government pay them compensation.

Unfurling banners and posters, the protesters demanded the
government honor its promise to pay compensation of Rp 5 million
each to 280 civilian guards, after the independence of East Timor
in May, 2002.

Manuel Gueterres, a former civilian guard, said the government
had also promised to provide jobs for the civilian guards upon
completing their tasks during the East Timor transition period,
but the promise was not honored.

The group coordinator, Xavier da Silva Pasiku, established
that the group would continue protesting until their demand was
met.

In response, the local authority said it was up to the central
government to resolve the problem.

"The group's demand has been conveyed to the central
government," Djidon de Haan told The Jakarta Post. -- JP