East Timor refugees to choose their countries

East Timor refugees to choose their countries

JAKARTA (JP): Some 134,000 East Timor refugees residing in
East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province will have to decide whether to
stay or leave the country in a one-day registration slated for
Dec. 13, officials said on Wednesday.

"The registration will be done at all refugee camps in the
province's 14 regencies. Most of the camps have been notified and
we're in the process of finalizing the forms," chief of the task
force for the Settlement of East Timorese Refugees in NTT,
Basyiruddin Yusuf, said.

The task force comprises representatives of the country's 16
ministries and related agencies.

Among the 132,000 refugees are 20,000 civil servants, he said.

"We need to sort them out and begin arrangements to
rehabilitate their lives," he said.

Three days before the registration there will be a new map of
the refugees location and they have to stay there to avoid
multiple counting, he said.

Refugees must provide information about family, occupation,
original regency and current domicile as well as choosing whether
to stay or leave Indonesia.

"Hopefully, the registration will take place on time. If not,
we'll probably conduct the registration after Idul Fitri.

"The registration will take place one day only in a bid to
obtain accurate counting. If the refugees move around, we'll
never get factual data," Basyiruddin said.

The registration process will involve some 1,600 officials,
each expected to gather data from 20 families.

"Volunteers may join the effort as long as they are willing to
do it honestly and with no political motives behind their
participation," he said.

He said the government was committed to solving the problem of
internally displaced people from East Timor in a proper manner.

"The choice is theirs, whether they want to stay or leave. Up
to this moment we have treated all refugees in NTT as Indonesian
citizens. Since Oct. 17, a total of 2,342 refugees have left NTT
for East Timor," he added.

The task force is preparing to help refugees who want to
return to East Timor through 14 available crossings in the
border, secretary of the task force Lt. Col. Suwandi Mihardja
said.

"Troops and officials will assist them to the crossings and
make sure they get safely across," Suwandi said.

The 14 crossings are in Oeoli, Oeolo, Haumeneana, Wini, Napan,
Mota Ain, Turiscain, Atambua, Labour Alas, Metamauk, Laktutus,
Lakmars, Haekesak and Builalo.

"This registration will help speed up the social and economic
recovery for these people and also further political resolution
in East Timor," Basyiruddin said.

The officer, however, said that the areas most prone to
trouble, that need careful handling, are those located in West
Timor, namely the regencies of Belu, Kupang, Kupang mayoralty,
Timor Tengah Selatan and Timor Tengah Utara.

"But so far the situation is under control. We have to raise
the people's spirits to start their lives again," he said.

Basyiruddin called for Dili Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo
and Ramos Horta to facilitate reconciliation between East
Timorese ahead of the festive season.

"They are both Nobel price winners ... and actively promoted
East Timor independence. So they must be responsible for the
reconciliation effort and show good will to accept and protect
their brothers and sisters back home from NTT," he said.

Suwandi said that those who wish to visit their families ahead
of the festive season of Christmas, Idul Fitri and New Year were
allowed to cross the border.

"So far, 200 people have registered to go to East Timor ...
we'll accommodate them and coordinate with the UN peacekeeping
force.

"It's good if they want to stay there permanently, but if not
they can return to NTT," Suwandi said.

As of November there were a total of five Army battalions in
NTT and a company of Marines soon will be stationed to guard the
border from Wini to Mota Ain, he added. (edt)