Refugees blamed for forest damage

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: At least 1,000 hectares of land inside protected forests in the East Nusa Tenggara regency of Belu have been cleared for plantation and settlement by East Timorese refugees, an official said on Thursday.

Head of the local forestry agency Antonius Tisera said the damage had been discovered in protected forests in Wemer, Tubaki, and Kateri, which are situated in Malaka Timur and Sasi Taman districts. Around 1,700 refugees have been living in the areas since August, according to Antonius.

"The refugees should abandon the protected forest in order that the environment can be restored there," he said.

By way of explanation, refugee camp coordinator Aleks Parera said the displaced people were forced to clear the forest as they needed land for cultivating crops and to build houses.

"We know we have damaged the forest, but it was unavoidable as we needed the land for planting corn and cassava," Aleks said.

Some 30,000 East Timorese refugees remain in camps across the province. The government has said it will shut the camps by the end of this year. -- JP