Closure of refugee camps in Kupang delayed

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

The central government has relented a little in its approach toward East Timorese refugees by postponing the planned closure of refugee camps in East Nusa Tenggara province until December this year.

But the government has made it clear that there will not be any repatriation of refugees to the newly established Democratic Republic of East Timor after August.

Bowing to demands by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Indonesian government has agreed that refugees in Kupang will continue to receive aid until the new deadline passes.

"By Jan. 1, 2003 there will be no more refugees in the province," East Nusa Tenggara Deputy Governor Johanis Pake Pani told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

The government decided early this year to close down all refugee camps in West Timor in August. However, as the deadline nears and the refugees continue to depend on the government for financial aid, the government has backed down.

However, Kupang social affairs office chief Stanis Tefa said on Tuesday that the extended deadline on the closure of the refugee camps did not mean that the government was extending the deadline for repatriation or monetary compensation for those opting to return to East Timor.

"We will tolerate those who want to stay as Indonesian citizens to use the camps until December, but in September the government will no longer repatriate people or pay compensation to the refugees," Stanis said.

Currently, the number of refugees in Kupang is about 54,000 people, from the approximately 250,000 who fled East Timor after its populace voted for independence in August 1999.

The Indonesian government, with the help of international donors, has provided refugees with daily financial support from the state budget since 1999.

The government has asked the refugees to decide whether to stay as Indonesian citizens or repatriate to East Timor.

East Timor became an independent state on May 20 this year and East Timorese leaders have been calling on refugees to return to their hometowns.

Stanis said that from September to December, it would be the responsibility of UNHCR and the International Organization on Migration (IOM) to facilitate the return of the refugees.

Kupang military regional commander Col. Moeswarno Moesanip revealed that the two international organizations would limit their assistance in providing transportation means to cross the border.

"The transportation services provided by the two organizations will only last until December," Moeswarno said.