E. Timor refugees cause trouble

ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: East Timorese refugees in the East Nusa Tenggara town of Belu continue to intimidate and blackmail locals, residents and officials said.

Many of the refugees, armed with sharp weapons, have robbed local residents, Belu Regent Marsel Bere told The Jakarta Post.

"I frequently receive reports from village personnel that refugees are intimidating and terrorizing local residents, making them very anxious," he said.

Bere said the victims were powerless against the blackmailers, who often carried sharp weapons.

The government has extended the deadline until August for thousands of East Timorese refugees to return home or be resettled in Sumatra, Kalimantan or Sulawesi.

A number of local people have been the victims of murder, violent robberies and thefts since the refugees arrived in Atambua in 1999. Bere said that at least 10 people had been murdered by refugees, and many more had been severely injured and robbed.

He added that the refugees had also taken over fertile land owned by locals.

Belu Military commander Lt. Col. Inf. Didi Sudiana said he had received the reports and had ordered his men to take action against the refugees in order to prevent conflict in the regency. --JP