Japan provides E. Timor scholarships

Japan provides E. Timor scholarships

JAKARTA: The Japanese government donated on Wednesday
US$658,000 in scholarships for East Timor students studying in
universities and educational institutions throughout Indonesia.

The trust-fund agreement was signed by Japanese ambassador
Takao Kawakami and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)
resident representative Ravi Rajan at the U.N. office here.

The fund will be administered by UNDP and will cover tuition
fees, living allowances and other expenses of the students for
this academic year.

"A total of 300 recipients of the scholarship have already
been identified," Director General for Higher Education of the
Ministry of National Education Satryo Soemantri Brodjonegoro said
after witnessing the signing of the agreement.

Around 2,000 East Timorese students took unscheduled leave in
August for last year's self-determination ballot which resulted
in an overwhelming rejection of the Indonesian government's wide-
ranging autonomy offer.

Indonesia has been asked to let these students continue their
studies as many international agencies are willing to provide
scholarship funds for the students.

This year, at least 30 East Timorese students continued their
studies at the state Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and the
Indonesian government has exempted them from paying school
fees.(edt/dja)