East Timorese vow to forgive ex-militiamen

East Timorese vow to forgive ex-militiamen

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Dili

East Timorese residents want their compatriots -- including
former anti-independence militiamen -- currently sheltering at
refugee camps in East Nusa Tenggara to return home, signifying
their full acceptance in their homeland.

Pro-Indonesia militias were blamed for the rampage in East
Timor when it voted to break away from Indonesia in August 1999.

The violence forced some 250,000 people to flee to East Nusa
Tenggara for safety, but many of them have returned home.

The remainder -- about 128,000 refugees -- are reluctant to
return to East Timor, despite the threat of starvation in the
camps, until after the UN-administered territory becomes a fully
independent state on May 20.

The Indonesian government has ceased the supply of food
assistance to the refugees and has offered two choices:
repatriation or resettlement in Sumatra, Sulawesi or Kalimantan.

The halt to food aid has created food shortages in the camps.
Local residents have complained of some cases of intimidation,
violence and blackmail by refugees struggling to feed themselves.

Some pro-Indonesia refugees fear revenge may be taken against
them by pro-independence East Timorese if they return home,
though their leaders have vowed to guarantee security for
returning people.

East Timorese residents living in the districts of Baucau,
Viqueque and Lospalos said they missed their fellow townspeople
still in East Nusa Tenggara.

"There is no revenge planned for proautonomy (Indonesia) East
Timorese. Those involved in the murders and scorched-earth
activities in East Timor will have to face the law. Civilians
have no right to try them. They should come home and stay in
their respective houses," Marito Reis, temporary head of the
Baucau administration, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

He said at least 600 refugee families from Baucau were still
living in East Nusa Tenggara.

"They used to be civil servants, police, soldiers and
civilians. Some of them have been identified as former members of
militias involved in the post-ballot scorched-earth activities in
East Timor," Marito added.

Support for the repatriation of refugees also comes from
Francisco da Costa, 58, head of Baucau village, who has pledged
to accept militiamen willing to return.

"If there are militia members wanting to return home, please
go ahead. We will not take revenge against them nor ill-treat
them. We want to live in peace," he said.

Viqueque tribal leader Joao Matheos da Costa, 66, said he and
local residents were ready to protect all returning refugees,
including proautonomy ones, from any possible attack.

A similar opinion was voiced by Agustino Soares, a 23-year
youth from Watulea village, and Abili da Costa, a resident from
Viqueque.

They told the Post that the youths of East Timor did want to
see the future of East Timor destroyed again merely due to
different political aspirations of locals.

"Although we are divided on our political ideology, we still
love those still in West Timor. We don't have a sense of revenge,
although some of them used to serve as militiamen," said
Agustino.

Anything they are guilty of should be tried by the courts, he
added. "We will return their houses, land and other assets to
them."

In Lospalos, 30-year-old Aramando da Costa from Lautem
district said on Monday: "Many of our brothers are still in West
Timor. If they return home, we will welcome them warmly. The law
has taken effect. There is no 'jungle law' here because we want a
democratic country".