E. Timorese asylum seekers deported

ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: The authorities deported 26 East Timorese asylum seekers from East Nusa Tenggara province on Monday.

Atambua immigration office head Slamet Santoso said the deportations were in line with the prevailing laws and legal procedures, and the East Timorese government's stated readiness to accept the return of the asylum seekers.

"We have coordinated with the East Timor government in this issue and they have promised to guarantee their security and safety," he added.

The 26 asylum seekers appeared to be extremely disappointed and some of them burst their tears when being handed over to the East Timorese officers who picked them up at a security post in the Motaain border post.

"We don't want to return home. It would be better to be shot dead here," Antonio, 40, one of the asylum seekers, cried out.

The 26 East Timorese citizens crossed the border into neighboring East Nusa Tenggara last month to seek asylum from the Indonesian government, alleging security threats in their homeland. --JP