Government pledges to resettle refugees soon

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): The government promised on Tuesday to relocate East Timor refugees sheltered in this province in two months.

Minister of Transmigration A.M. Hendro Priyono said here that transmigration areas across the province would be allotted for the East Timorese, who fled their homeland following the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot.

"They must be resettled as soon as possible in order not to cause new problems for local residents or themselves," Hendro said.

Hendro said the land designated for transmigration would be able to accommodate some 100,000 people. The parcels of land are scattered around West Timor and Sumba, Flores and Alor islands.

"If the exodus continues, we will seek new places outside the province, for example in Maluku and Irian Jaya. The last two provinces are on paper and ready to welcome the refugees, who will only need to adapt themselves to the local culture," Hendro said.

Along with Hendro, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Haryono Suyono, Minister of Agriculture Sholeh Solahudin, Minister of Public Works Rachmadi Bambang Sumadhijo and Minister of Information Muhammad Yunus visited some 5,000 families camping in refugee centers here.

In response to Hendro's statement, Kupang Regent I.A. Medah said the regency's capital of Sulemu, some 50 kilometers east of here, was ready to admit 50,000 refugees now taking shelter in town.

"There are numerous housing complexes which have not been inhabited yet. Apart from houses, the local government will allow the refugees to use plots belonging to the local government," Medah said.

The number of refugees sheltered in nine regencies across this province broke the 140,000 mark on Tuesday. Hundreds more were camping at El Tari Airport, waiting for evacuation to their hometowns in Java.

The refugees, along with the only goods they had left, packed the tunnel which leads to the airport's office. Some were asleep when some 500 fellow refugees arrived from Baucau and Lospalos.

Tears and hugs welcomed the latest batch of refugees, mostly old women and children, who landed at the airport on Tuesday morning on a Hercules flight.

Haryono told refugees residing at the NTT sports hall that the government would not prevent them from returning home if security and order were restored.

But a number of refugees opted to stay out of East Timor, at least for some time, citing the fear and terror they endured along the way to safety.

"I saw militia members and military troops kill priests and nuns," a man who requested anonymity said. "I will go back only if the peacekeeping force comes and the Indonesian troops go," he said.

Some refugees, meanwhile, are longing for home.

"I'm supportive of the autonomy offer, but I wish I could go home some day. Regardless of its new status as an independent state, East Timor is my beloved birthplace," said Joao Soares.

He said he hoped the United Nations international troops could arrive as soon as possible and restore order.

Another refugee, Maria Saldanha, concurred. "I wish East Timor returns to normal, so that I can go home. The security situation has forced me to take refuge," she said.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet Alexander Tallo, who accompanied the five Cabinet ministers, reiterated his call on local residents and refugees to exercise restraint, following reports of arguments which had flared up between local youths and armed East Timor prointegration militias.

"Local residents should understand the psychological burden of the refugees. On the other hand, the refugees should adjust themselves to local culture," Tallo said.

Refugees outnumber the residents of Kupang and Atambua, and residents have raised complaints over the militia members who display guns in public places and sometimes fire shots.

Chief of Udayana Military Command overseeing Nusa Tenggara, Bali and East Timor, Maj. Gen. Adam Damiri, has pledged not to tolerate a display of arms.

In Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi Governor HZB Palaguna said the province expects to receive 10,000 people fleeing from East Timor, of which 6,000 are South Sulawesi natives who migrated to the former Portuguese colony.

"We don't mind accepting the East Timorese, no matter what they voted for in the August ballot," Palaguna said, adding that international assistance was needed to help the province resettle the refugees.

In Jakarta, 12 ambassadors of European Union countries told President B.J. Habibie that their governments had pledged US$10 million worth of humanitarian assistance for the East Timorese and were preparing an airdrop of food and emergency supplies in the territory.

Hannu Himanen, the Finnish ambassador to Indonesia, told reporters after the meeting at the State Palace that the aid package would be delivered through international organizations under the UN, the International Committee of the Red Cross and local government-sanctioned social organizations.

Himanen said the aid delivery would take place as soon as security was restored to East Timor. (yac/30/prb/amd)