UN expresses its concern over Suai refugees in East Timor

DILI, East Timor (JP): The United Nations representative here expressed concern on Monday over intimidation toward some 2,300 residents in Covalima who sought shelter at a local church.

Spokesman of the UN Mission in East Timor (UNAMET) David Wimhurst said refugees around the church had no access to pipe water. He said refugees had cited intimidation from the local Laksaur prointegration militia.

The condition of the refugees also attracted the attention of United States senators who visited the regency capital of Suai on Saturday. Democrat Tom Harkin told the refugees that they would ask their government and the UN to provide peacekeeping forces in East Timor, given the lack of security ahead of the Aug. 30 ballot.

The senators met regent Herman Setyono to ask about the refugees, who mostly arrived several weeks ago.

In response to a report by UNAMET, East Timor Military Commander Col. Noer Muis said on Sunday he would visit the refugees on Monday.

Residents told UNAMET officials that the head of the local office of public works, Alberto de Neri, was responsible for the refugees' access to water.

He was quoted as saying that it was "his business" whether access to water should be provided. Refugees were without water for five days, but now had access after reports were made to Jakarta and local authorities.

Alberto also heads the regional office of the prointegration Forum for Unity, Peace and Justice (FPDK). A founder of the Forum, Jose Tavares, told The Jakarta Post on Monday from Dili that it was impossible Alberto had anything to do with preventing the refugees' access to water.

The Forum and the militia are grouped together with other prointegration groups under the United Front for East Timor Autonomy. Wimhurst also suggested that such measures against refugees were done to force them out of the church and make it difficult for them to participate in the ballot.

Tavares said, "We would not do anything so stupid, we want all East Timorese to participate in peace."

Such measures would be to the disadvantage of the Forum, he said.

"FPDK has helped refugees in many places, including in relation to water," Tavares said.

He also denied reports of intimidation against the refugees. He added that during the campaign period ahead of the ballot, the proindependence Falintil militia had disrupted prointegration campaigns in Ermera, Los Palos and other regencies. (33/anr)