Doctors demand protection

Doctors demand protection

DILI, East Timor: The East Timor branch of the Indonesian
Doctors Association (IDI) has called on the provincial government
and security authorities to guarantee the safety of doctors
posted across the province.

"We have been forced to call for help because doctors
stationed in the province can no longer stand the kind of abuse
they frequently receive. They are often assaulted, terrorized and
intimidated by local residents," I Wayan Winarta, the
association's branch chief here, said yesterday.

One hundred and twenty doctors are stationed in the province,
most of whom are not native to the area.

Antara reported that in a petition filed with East Timor
Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, the association urged the
Minister of Health to review the policy of sending recent
graduates and other inexperienced medical staff to the province
if their security could not be guaranteed.

Governor Soares acknowledged that doctors were frequently
subjected to abuse and offered them an apology.

He urged security authorities and regents to pay more
attention to the issue and promised to discuss the matter with
local religious and community leaders.

"I apologize to doctors for the way they have been treated,
(but) we should be patient because unfortunately teachers and
other government employees also often receive the same kind of
treatment," he remarked apologetically.