Island readied for Timor refugees

JAKARTA: Wetar, an island several kilometers north of East Timor, is being prepared as a transmigration site in anticipation of an exodus from the troubled province, transmigration minister AM Hendropriyono said here on Tuesday.

"The move is in anticipation of the worst situation in East Timor," he said as quoted by Antara. The minister told a hearing that transmigrants from East Timor would be resettled to Wetar, which could accommodate about 20,000 families, if necessary.

He denied the plan was linked to the recent announcement that the government was considering independence for East Timor should negotiations for wide-ranging autonomy fail. He only added there should be anticipation of future developments.

The island is a 15-minute speedboat ride from East Timor.