Foreign relief workers are free to return to NTT

Foreign relief workers are free to return to NTT

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): It is safe for foreign relief
workers to return to East Nusa Tenggara and help the Indonesian
government resolve the refugee problem there, Governor Piet A.
Tallo said on Tuesday.

He said security personnel were prepared to safeguard the
relief workers, particularly ahead of the planned registration of
East Timorese refugees on May 21.

"We will try our best to guarantee the safety of all foreign
relief workers, and are ready to accept their return here," Tallo
told journalists.

He said seven international organizations had resumed their
work in the province since last year's attack that claimed the
lives of three United Nations humanitarian workers.

The seven organizations including the United Nations
Children's Fund, Care International, Save the Children and the
Catholic Relief Service, all of whose foreign staff returned to
the province in February.

"Hopefully, we can hold the registration on May 21, with the
help of international organizations, so we can end the refugee
problem," Tallo said.

When the government registers the remaining 150,000 East
Timorese refugees in the province, the refugees will be asked to
declare whether they will remain Indonesian citizens or return to
East Timor.

A number of foreign workers are expected to help with the
registration to ensure the fairness of the process.

Kupang Military Resort chief Col. Budi Heriyanto said the
Indonesian Military (TNI) would station approximately 130
soldiers in each refugee camp in the province to back up the
police during the registration process.

"We have even offered them (foreign relief workers) full
protection in their office compounds so they can do their jobs.
We guarantee their safety if they want to return to the
province," Budi said.

He asserted that he had sufficient personnel to ensure
security in all refugee camps in the province, adding that his
men would continue their sweeps for weapons.

Kupang Police chief Brig. Gen. Jacki Uly was similarly
optimistic, saying the police would take every measure necessary
to maintain security in the province.

Following the deaths of the three UN workers on Sept. 6 last
year, the world body passed resolution No. 1319, which demanded
the government disarm and disband pro-Indonesia militias.

The incident resulted in the departure of all foreign aid
workers from the province. The UN continues to regard East Nusa
Tenggara as "unsafe" for aid workers.

Indonesian Military spokesman Air Rear Marshal Graito Usodo
took a much less friendly stance than Governor Tallo, questioning
the activities of foreign humanitarian workers in the area.

"TNI Headquarters has received intelligence reports that the
organizations conceal their political motives behind their
humanitarian activities," Graito said.

When asked to comment on Graito's allegation, Governor Tallo
said that was a problem for TNI, as humanitarian issues could not
be mixed with politics.

"If the TNI has received such reports it should conduct an
investigation," he said.

Tallo added that the East Timorese seeking refuge in the
province could decide for themselves whether to cooperate with
foreign aid workers. (dja/30)