Minister clarifies

Minister clarifies
E. Timor deportations

JAKARTA: Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirayuda said on
Tuesday over 200 Indonesians were deported from neighboring East
Timor because they did not have valid documents.

Hassan downplayed suggestions the deported Indonesians, all
Muslims, were deported from the predominantly Catholic East Timor
because of their religion.

"It has been a long-standing issue because they insisted on
staying in the country after the referendum," the minister said,
adding that the deported people had refused offers from the
Indonesian envoy in East Timor to help them secure passports and
other documents.

Earlier last week, the government of East Timor deported 270
Indonesians who had been living in Dili. -- JP