East Timor refugees reflect on terrible past

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): For many who lived and worked in East Timor, the results of the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot brought new hope of an independent homeland.

But for thousands of forgotten others, it has meant an end to the life they had known and a search for a new home.

About 2,500 inhabitants who fled East Timor recently left the refugee camps here and headed to various destinations such as Bali, Surabaya, Ujung Pandang and Jakarta.

Most boarded the Doronsolo and Awu passenger ships at Tenau Port in Kupang. More fortunate former inhabitants flew to their destinations.

Many of them had originally moved to East Timor because of their occupations, but some are local East Timorese who are now forced to move out of the territory because of their professions.

They had worked in a multitude of vocations: civil servants, private employees, vendors and members of Indonesian Military and Police.

"All of us thought that the situation in East Timor would get better. But after observing it further, it's not safe. So we have no choice but to leave and start anew," Anita, an East Timor civil servant who left for Jakarta, said in Kupang.

A former bussinesman from Baucau named Heru, 35, expressed his pessimism over the situation in East Timor wondering whether or not it would ever be normal again.

"I decided to leave the (refugee) camp and not go back there (to East Timor) because it is impossible and not suitable for business anymore. My wife and children already went back to Surabaya," he said.

North Central Timor regent Anton Amaunut said the government would be impartial in its treatment of refugees, promising to disregard their political alignments whether pro-autonomy or pro- independence.

Anto said all refugees in the territory may go back to or leave East Timor of their own volition.

"We have explained to them that they are free to make their own choice," he said.

"The government will not stand in their way. The most important thing is for both warring camps to make peace among themselves," he added.

Some refugees in Maumere have said they would remain in their camps in the Sikka regency until order and peace is restored in East Timor.

Many of these refugees decried the role of their leaders, on both sides, for continuing to provoke violence instead of trying to initiate peace and reconciliation.

Joao Paulo, 23, charged that most of the political elite in East Timor have fled the disputed territory.

"It's stupid. The political elite are enjoying themselves while the people have become the victims of war."

Almost all leading public figures, both pro-independence and pro-autonomy, are currently not in East Timor.

Most refugees could not understand the continuing violence and political rivalries. They just wanted their lives back.

Margarida, an 18 year old girl, could only shed tears and said she missed her school.

"My father has been killed and I only live with Mom and my little brother." (27/yac/edt)