Gusmao ends visit to NTT, promises help for refugees

Gusmao ends visit to NTT, promises help for refugees

Agencies, Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara

East Timorese President Xanana Gusmao ended his four-day visit to
East Nusa Tenggara on Monday with a promise to seek practical
ways to help Indonesia resolve the problem of the East Timorese
refugees in the province.

"We have examined the problem and see practical means that
could be pursued to resolve it," he was quoted as saying by
Antara at the border town of Mota'ain in the Indonesian district
of Belu, minutes before ending his visit.

He said the refugee problem couldn't be allowed to become a
prolonged burden for the people of East Nusa Tenggara.

He did not disclose what the practical means he had in mind
were. Xanana returned to East Timor by car.

Earlier in Atambua, Gusmao repeated his promise to guarantee
the safety of his pro-Indonesia countrymen who wished to return
home.

"We will continue to try to provide security guarantees in
every village. If you decide to return home, there could be a few
profanities but there won't be any beatings or even killings,"
Gusmao told some 4,000 refugees who packed a football stadium in
Atambua.

"We will do our best to provide for your safety and we will
also ensure that the East Timorese will not harbor thoughts of
vengeance," Gusmao was quoted by AFP as saying.

A press release from Gusmao's office has described his visit
as a final attempt to convince the remaining 30,000 or so
refugees in West Timor that they have until December 31 to return
to East Timor with help from international organizations.

Those agencies will cease their returnee assistance program on
January 1, 2003 and the Indonesian government has announced that
its own assistance will also end.

The East Timorese who decide to stay in Indonesia after that
date will no longer be considered refugees.

Gusmao told the crowd it was their decision whether to return
home or to stay in Indonesia but the former rebel leader said:
"If you decide to stay in West Timor, it will become a very heavy
burden for the people and the government of Indonesia."

The former commander of the pro-Indonesia militia, Joao
Tavares, also attended the rally, witnesses said.

Gusmao was due to meet with some 1,000 other refugees in the
border town of Mota'ain before returning to Dili.

More than 250,000 East Timorese fled or were forced from their
homeland into West Timor after the Indonesian military and the
militia proxies they created carried out a scorched-earth policy
after the August 1999 UN-sponsored ballot in which East Timor
voted to secede.

The UN's refugee agency estimates that 30,000 refugees remain
in West Timor. Most are former militia, military, police and
government officials, and their dependents.

In July, Gusmao received the red carpet treatment when he made
his first visit to Indonesia since his country became independent
on May 20 after 31 months of UN stewardship.

East Timor's independence is still considered an affront by
parts of the Indonesian military.