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)