Thousands of East Timorese pour back into Indonesia

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)