Migrants return to East Timor

ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: After the mass exodus of migrants from East Timor, many of those who fled to neighboring East Nusa Tenggara were seen returning to Dili by bus over the weekend.

The border checkpoint between the two provinces was crowded as many of them boarded buses heading back to Dili.

East Nusa Tenggara Police chief Col. Engkesman visited here Sunday to check on the state of those returning and the security officers on duty.

Meanwhile in Jakarta, Navy spokesman Commodore Mualimin Santoso denied reports yesterday that 10 Navy ships were stationed near Dili to anticipate a possible mass exodus.

He said the ships were being readied as part of the Navy's assistance program to ship basic essentials to various provinces.

"One of the ships is KRI Dili which is now in East Timor," he said. (yac)