E. Timorese seek political asylum

E. Timorese seek political asylum

JAKARTA (JP): Eight East Timorese youths forced their way into the Dutch Embassy shortly after noon yesterday and asked that they be given political asylum by the Netherlands.

Dutch Ambassador Paul Reitze Brower confirmed to The Jakarta Post by phone last night that the eight youths have asked for asylum, citing political persecution.

Ambassador Brower declined to disclose their names.

"We are now studying their applications," he said. "We will give an answer as soon as possible."

Brower added that he had already contacted The Hague, which will determine whether or not to grant the political asylum status.

Reuter news agency reported yesterday that a minor scuffle occurred at the embassy' gate when the eight East Timorese forced their way into the embassy compound.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday quickly deplored the asylum seekers' claim that they were being persecuted.

"They (asylum seekers) are using political reasons to have their applications met. There are no reasons for them to seek asylum because they have never been under pressure, tortured, or wanted by the security authorities," Ghaffar Fadyl, the Director for Foreign Information, told The Post by phone.

Ghaffar, who also declined to disclose the names of the Timorese, said he believed the youths were simply having economic difficulties.

This is the fourth time in the last two years that young East Timorese have forced their way into a foreign embassy seeking political asylum. In all three incidents, each eventually received asylum from Portugal, the former colonial ruler in East Timor.

Five of them went to Lisbon courtesy of the British embassy last Sept. 29 after occupying the parking grounds of the American embassy in November last year, and seven courtesy of the Swedish and Finnish embassies in July 1993. (rms)