East Timorese refugees demand aid to live
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang
Hundreds of East Timorese refugees continued to protest in front of the East Nusa Tenggara governor's office on Monday, demanding the Indonesian government resume aid deliveries to the approximately 20,000 refugees entering their fourth year of exile in the province.
In the second demonstration since last Saturday, the refugees demanded financial aid, food assistance and grants for small businesses. They also asked for transparency in the channeling of a Rp 53.21 billion (about US$6.1 million) grant from Japan.
The cash-strapped Indonesian government halted aid for the refugees last January. The United Nations also suspended its aid program and urged the refugees to return to the now stable East Timor.
"These demands to review the suspension of the aid program are impossible to meet," said an official from the provincial administration, Tuce Manungga.
However, he added, a program to assist 574 small businesses owned by refugees was being discussed with the Kupang administration.
Regarding the Rp 52 billion grant from Japan, Tuce said a portion of the money would go toward constructing 4,000 houses for refugees who agreed to join the government's resettlement program. These houses are scheduled for development this year, he added.
"Refugees must immediately make a choice; either go home to East Timor or be resettled," he said.
Over 100,000 East Timorese fled to the western part of Timor island to escape the violence that swept across the former Indonesian province in 1999.
Prointegration militias, allegedly with the backing of the Indonesian Military, went on a rampage in East Timor after a UN- sponsored referendum ended in an overwhelming vote for independence.
Entering the fourth year of exile and after six months of no official aid, conditions at the refugee camps have worsened.
Feliks Fernandez, the coordinator of the rally, said refugees were struggling to find food to survive.
Some girls are even selling themselves to raise money for their families, he was quoted as saying by Antara.
He said the refugees would continue their protests until the government heeded their demands.