Resettling E. Timor refugees to take years

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (JP): The resettlement of East Timorese refugees who opted to remain in Indonesia represents major homework for the government, and it would take at least two years for the government to complete it, an official said here on Saturday.

"More refugees chose to stay. This is not an easy job. That's why the time consuming resettlement program must be carried out in stages," said Usman Abubakar, coordinator for the media center managed by the registration organizing committee.

The latest tally available at the media center at 6 p.m. local time on Saturday showed that 97.82 percent or 103,537 out of 105,843 voters wanted to stay in Indonesia.

Only 1,485 of the voters chose to return to East Timor and only 811 did not vote.

The registration, organized by the government of Indonesia, is intended to be an initial step toward monitoring the country's population and demographics.

Eligible voters are those over 17 years old, including former members of Indonesian Military and Police force.

According to Usman, before the organizing committee finishes the registration, the refugees still have time to change their mind.

"The consequence of the registration results is that the government must provide very large resettlement sites across the archipelago to house those who want to stay. We need international help for the huge task," Usman was quoted by Antara as saying.

East Nusa Tenggara deputy governor Pake Rani said that European countries had promised to provide 6 million euro in aid.

In a separate interview, spokesman for Uni Timor Aswain (Untas) Mario Florentina Viera, said that the number of refugees who wanted to stay in Indonesia was not that big.

Untas is an non-governmental umbrella organization for the refugees.

"Some 30,000 elderly refugees who wanted to return to East Timor had to stay following Udayana Military Command chief's ultimatum that those trying to sabotage the registration proceedings would be shot."

"The elderly people were afraid to leave. They thought they would be shot if they left for East Timor," said Mario.

Meanwhile, in Canberra, Australia's defense force chief Admiral Chris Barrie said on Saturday that East Timor would need Australian military help for a long time due to continuing threats by militias operating from West Timor.

"For the East Timorese now to take what was once Falantil, a resistance force, a guerrilla force and turn it into a military force is actually a big task," Barrie told ABC radio as reported by AFP.

"There is going to be a requirement for border security. Now, that's inevitable."

His comments came as Australian Army chief General Peter Cosgrove and Veterans Affairs Minister Bruce Scott prepared to depart on Sunday for Dili, East Timor's capital.

About 1,500 Australians are currently based in East Timor as part of the UN Transitional Authority East Timor (UNTAET). (30/sur)