Ex-legislators to get allowance

KUPANG, E. Nusa Tenggara: Former East Timor legislators who have opted to retain Indonesian citizenship will receive a monthly allowance of Rp 1.5 million to Rp 1 million for 30 months.

Head of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Social Aid Bureau Stanis Tefa said on Sunday that the decision to that effect, contained in presidential decree No.50/2002, had followed a joint decision of the Ministries of Home Affairs and Finance.

Stanis said, in the case of former East Timor legislators who had died, the financial allowance would be payable to their heirs such as their wife or children.

"This means that former East Timor DPRD members who have now returned to Timor Leste will have no right to such financial allowance", Stanis Tefa said.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has yet to complete its listing of former East Timor legislators eligible for the financial allowance.

Eligible former legislators will have only until the end of the year to receive the allowance, beyond which they will forfeit their right to it. --Antara