Thousands of East Timorese pour back into Indonesia

JAKARTA (JP): The government has reported that some 10,000 East Timorese repatriated by international agencies have returned to neighboring East Nusa Tenggara over the past month.

Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare and Poverty Eradication Basri Hasanuddin said on Saturday the East Timorese were streaming back to refugee camps in Indonesia because of uncertainties at home, including food shortages.

"Since conditions in East Timor have not yet returned to normal, we have received reports of these people coming back to their former camps in West Timor (East Nusa Tenggara).

"These refugees opted to return to the camps in Atambua, across the border (from East Timor), because they can enjoy free meals and shelter (in the camps). Their country does not provide these necessities," Basri said.

He did not say where the reports originated from and how the East Timorese were able to cross the border unobserved by authorities.

Earlier reports put the number of returnees at 25,000, but Basri doubted this figure.

Basri said the fact that such a large number of East Timorese were able to cross the border into Indonesia raised concerns over security along the border between East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor.

"We expect stricter measures to prevent more cross-border flows. We really wish the refugees would return to East Timor because we cannot afford to provide for them anymore," Basri said.

An estimate 260,000 people fled East Timor during the violence which followed the Aug. 30 self-determination ballot which resulted in an overwhelmingly vote for independence. Almost 80 percent of the infrastructure in the territory was damaged during the mayhem.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has repatriated 150,000 East Timorese.

Basri has several times complained about financial difficulties in sheltering the East Timor refugees, particularly in light of the fact that Indonesia is also caring for some 400,000 displaced people who fled communal clashes in Kalimantan, Maluku and Aceh.

The minister, who also chairs the National Disaster Coordinating Board, said the current state budget provided only US$40 million of the $110 million required to aid refugees across the country.

The government will halt its humanitarian aid for East Timor refugees in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on April 1. The East Timorese will have until March 31 to decide whether to return to East Timor or remain in Indonesia. Those who opt to remain in Indonesia will be resettled in transmigration areas across the country.

Basri said he hoped no more repatriated East Timorese would return to Indonesia now that the registration of transmigration applicants had begun.

When pressed further about the government's policy on the returnees, Basri said: "We have no choice but to accept them, but the government will stop all assistance on March 31."

The UNHCR has urged the government to be flexible on this deadline.

In response to these requests, Basri said the government would seek a win-win solution without easing its stance. (dja)