E. Timorese asylum seekers deported

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