E. Timor refugees renew demand

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Eurico Guterres, one of the East Timorese prointegration leaders, has urged President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah Haz to pay greater attention to the fate of about 111,000 East Timorese refugees currently living in various areas, especially in East Nusa Tenggara.

"East Timorese refugees have experienced unfair treatmeant, as if they were people from other country," Eurico told The Jakarta Post here on Friday.

The refugees had so far been given empty promises or even become the subject of exploitation by various parties in the country and abroad for their own interests, added Gutteres, who has just been released from prison.

"We have become sick, so we appeal to Ibu Megawati for concrete steps," he said, while threatening to bring the refugees to Jakarta to seek political asylum if no proper attention was given. (27)