East Timor refugees make the ultimate choice
East Timor refugees make the ultimate choice
By Yemris Fointuna
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): The scorching sun and
uncompromising atmosphere in West Timor, East Nusa Tenggara,
seemingly cooled as hundreds of refugees voluntarily gathered at
registration sites to determine their future -- to be resettled
and live in Indonesia or return home to their native East Timor.
Looking weary and unkempt, the refugees approached
registration posts on Wednesday, the first day of registration,
to make a decision that would have lasting effects on their
future.
The large and orderly turnout was somewhat unexpected, going
against all the speculation on the eve of the registration that
the process would meet with failure.
A week earlier, certain groups claiming to represent refugees
in camps in Noelbaki, Tuapukan, Sulamu and Naibonat had
threatened to obstruct the process unless their demands were met.
These groups were demanding, among other things, that separate
stations be set up for those refugees wishing to return to East
Timor and those intending to remain in Indonesia.
Amin Rianom, chairman of the refugee registration organizing
committee, rejected the demand saying that the registration
procedures were in accordance with international standards.
Homeland
As registration stations opened at 8 a.m. on Wednesday the
refugees, without receiving specific instructions, gathered in
number at the locations.
Their choice was clear on the registration cards: choose the
symbol of the East Timor territory to return to their homeland,
or choose the Garuda (eagle) symbol to remain in Indonesia and
retain their Indonesian citizenship.
As of Sunday out of 105,843 registrants, 103,537 chose to
remain in Indonesia.
The refugees gave different reasons for making the choices
they made. Roni Berek, 41, an ex-employee of the former East
Timor branch of the Regional Development Bank, told The Jakarta
Post that his decision to remain in Indonesia was spurred by his
love for the country.
He said Indonesia's role in developing and shaping East Timor
for 24 years enabled his family to receive a proper education.
The Bereks are quite prepared to be regarded as guests in
their native land, when one day they visit their relatives in
East Timor as foreign tourists.
Another registrant, Beni Seran, 47, shared this view and
revealed that his father was slain by proindependence forces when
East Timor was integrated with Indonesia in 1975.
Beni, who lives in the Noelbaki camp, finds it impossible to
erase the incident from his memory and has sworn to live and die
in Indonesia.
Beni and his entire family expressed their readiness to be
viewed as foreign visitors when they make the trip to East Timor
to pay their respects to Beni's parents at the Viqueque regency
(now district) graveyard.
What about those who refused to register?
One such person is former East Timor governor Abilio Jose
Osario Soares, who maintained a philosophical stance saying there
was only one opportunity to vote and he used it in the 1999 self-
determination referendum.
The politician turned entrepreneur openly affirmed: "For me,
Indonesia yes, registration no."
The 56-year-old Aleksiro Manteiro, who resides in the Naibonat
camp in East Kupang, took a similar view.
"Why should I vote. I already did it in East Timor. By
registering, can we recapture East Timor?"
He also rejected the assumption that by refusing to vote, he
would be considered an illegal immigrant.
Aleksiro charged that the very reason he is now in West Timor
is because he loves Indonesia. He argued that it would be narrow-
minded of the government to tag him as an illegal alien.
"Indonesia is a sovereign nation, it should appreciate the
preferences of every citizen, including abstaining," Aleksiro
said.
Three refugees who chose to return to East Timor said they had
considered their decision for months. All three asked not to be
identified.
One of them made it clear that his family and relatives were
in Dili.
"My father and brother are there, they've asked me to come
back home. But I couldn't return because I had sided with
Indonesia. (But) later Baucau Bishop Basilio told me about the
decent life in East Timor, so now I'd like to go home," he said.
Whatever their choices, everything has now been determined.
But further action is needed to follow up the sincere and honest
participation of the refugees to prevent the emergence of a time
bomb in West Timor.
With this registration, their refugee status has automatically
ended. With regard to those who chose to stay in Indonesia, the
government has said it will begin a resettlement program.
For East Timor-bound registrants, the government is
cooperating with United Nations agencies to send them back home.
Officials say that illegal immigrants will be moved to border
areas.