E. Timorese resettled in Kalimantan

E. Timorese resettled in Kalimantan

ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: Some 30 families from East Timor were transported by sea to their new settlement in South Kalimantan.

The people are part of some 20,000 East Timorese refugees who have chosen to remain in Indonesia instead of being repatriated.

Head of the manpower and transmigration agency in Belu regency, Hendrikus Ganggur, said more East Timorese refugees will follow suit and will be resettled in Central Kalimantan and on Sumba island in East Nusa Tenggara.

"They have committed to start a new life while maintaining national integrity and harmony," Ganggur said,

The refugees mostly came from Bobonaro, Dili and Ermera. Belu regent Marsellus Bere and other local officials accompanied the refugees en route to their destination.

Some 250,000 East Timorese fled after a UN-administered referendum resulted in an overwhelming victory for the pro- independence camp.

Ganggur said the Belu regency administration expected that Central Kalimantan could accept more East Timorese refugees.

All refugee camps across East Nusa Tenggara will be closed down by the end of the year. -- Antara