E. Timorese citizens demand asylum

E. Timorese citizens demand asylum

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Twenty-six East Timorese citizens have
requested political asylum from the Indonesian government
due to fear of intimidation back home, an Indonesian official has said.

However, the Indonesian government initially turned down the
request on the grounds that the 26 East Timorese previously
refused to become Indonesian citizens, said Col. Moeswarno
Moesanip, the chief of Wirasakti Military Resort overseeing East
Timor Province (NTT).

"The 26 East Timorese took refuge in Indonesia after the 1999
East Timor mayhem, and they were given a chance to obtain
Indonesian citizenship.

"However, instead of doing that, they returned later on to
their hometown and became citizens of East Timor," Moeswarno told
The Jakarta Post. -JP