East Timor refugees must decide fate in June
JAKARTA (JP): A total of 112,243 East Timor refugees living in camps across East Nusa Tenggara will have to decide after June 6 whether or not they wish to remain in Indonesia or return to their homeland.
Deputy chief of the Uni Timor Aswain (Untas), an East Timor reconciliation forum, Noberta Bello, said in Kupang on Wednesday that the Indonesian government will commence registration on June 6, 2001.
Noberta highlighted the significance of the registration, which will be a crucial time for these refugees in determining their future.
Those who choose to stay in Indonesia will most likely be placed in resettlement areas and no longer live in emergency refugee tents, she said.
Those who do not retain their Indonesian citizenship will be repatriated in due time back across the border by the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET).
"All East Timorese will have the freedom to make their own choice according to their conscience," Vitorino Araujo dos Santos, another member of Untas, was quoted by Antara as saying.
"There will be no pressure from anyone during the registration process.
"We've tried to explain to the refugees the importance of the registration process. They understand and are prepared for it," he said.
Noberta added that such a registration process, in which people will have to determine where their futures lie, is probably one of the first ever held in the world.
"The Indonesian government is also doing it because it will make it easier to draft plans for humanitarian aid in the future," she added.
Some 256 registration posts will be readied, opening from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on June 6. About 1,600 officials will be on hand to register the refugees.
"I'm optimistic that the registration will be successful," Noberta remarked.
As reported by Antara, data released by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reveals that the total number of East Timorese refugees who have already been repatriated has reached some 175,000 people.