E. Timor refugees could be home for Christmas: UN
E. Timor refugees could be home for Christmas: UN
DILI, East Timor (AP): Many of the East Timorese refugees still living in camps in West Timor could be home by Christmas, the United nation's refugee agency predicted on Thursday.
"We are convinced that very soon, possibly before Christmas, we could see substantial numbers of people ... return to this shattered nation and take part in its reconstruction," said the agency's operational chief in Dili, Bernard Kerblat.
The United Nations estimates that up to 120,000 East Timorese refugees remain in the camps, which sprung up throughout Indonesian West Timor to accommodate people fleeing a frenzy of violence and destruction by militias -- backed by some sections of the Indonesian military -- opposed to Timor's vote for independence in August, 1999.
So far 172,000 refugees have returned to their former home, but the flow of people across the border is now a trickle.
"At this current rate, let's be honest, it would take us 15 years to empty the camps, but if there is goodwill there will be a solution," said Kerblat.
He said the biggest obstacle for potential returnees was a propaganda campaign by some militia and pro-autonomy leaders seeking to convince refugees it was too dangerous to return.
The United Nations has been unable to counter the claims since all its workers fled the province after three of their colleagues were slain by militiamen in September.
It was possible that infiltrators into East Timor are sending false information back to West Timor to keep the refugees in the camps, Kerblat said.
"They are people who are opportunists who ... most likely derive personal benefit from the current stalemate," he said.
Kerblat denied claims by militia leader Joanico Cesario Belo, who lives in West Timor with 6,000 of his followers, that refugees were systematically beaten up on their return to East Timor.
However, he admitted that a former member of the Indonesian military's civilian service was beaten when he arrived home.
"There was a returnee who was mishandled by members of the community and that was quickly diffused. There were a few punches when the gentleman arrived in the village," said Kerblat.