UN urges action to stop intimidation of refugees

JAKARTA (JP): The United Nation High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) called on the Indonesian government on Tuesday to stop the continuous intimidation by pro-Indonesia militia of its humanitarian workers and East Timorese refugees wishing to return home in East Nusa Tenggara.

Spokesman for the humanitarian agency Kris Janowski said its regional representative Rene van Rooyen had sent a letter to the newly installed Indonesian Foreign Minister Alwi Shihab, following 18 incidents of harassment in Atambua.

The refugee agency urged the government to separate the armed militia from civilians in the camps to secure the security of both refugees and humanitarian workers, Janowski said.

"Incidents have included physical attacks, stonings and shootings in the air," he said in Geneva as quoted by AFP.

On Monday armed militia prevented the transfer of refugees from the Noelbaki camp to a transit center in Kupang, the capital of East Nusa Tenggara, about 20 kilometers away.

Three men in military uniforms reportedly threatened the refugees and told the humanitarian agency to leave the camp, despite discussions with police and local authorities.

"While cooperation between UN staff and the local authorities in East Nusa Tenggara is generally good, there was no effort to intervene and arrest those responsible," Janowski said quoting van Rooyen.

Meanwhile the repatriation of East Timorese continued on Tuesday, with refugees from Atambua and Kupang taken by either sea or air to the East Timorese capital of Dili.

The International Organization for Migration and the UNHCR have so far repatriated more than 50,000 East Timorese from west Timor and other parts of Indonesia.

The UN body flew more than 300 refugees from Kupang to East Timor on Tuesday.

Amid fear of intimidation from armed militia, the refugees were transported by buses to El Tari airport under tight security.

Local police Capt. Matheus Ma'u said the UN body had so far flown a total of 14.644 people to Dili through Fatululi.

More than 260,000 East Timorese sought refuge in East Nusa Tenggara due to rampaging violence which followed the Aug. 30 ballot in the former Portuguese colony. More than 78 percent of voters chose independence.

The UN has provided a total of US$ 21.1 million (Rp 140 billion) in aid for East Timorese refugees sheltering in East Nusa Tenggara alone.

Deputy governor Yohanis Pake Pani said the money was channeled to several UN agencies dealing with refugees.

"The UN is responsible for everything happening to the refugees because they held the referendum," Pani said.

In a related development, Dili Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes Belo has written to East Timorese refugees, calling for them to immediately return to their home land, Timor Lorosae, the Tetun (the local language) translation of East Timor.

"We have all endured such bitter experiences before and after the announcement of the result of the referendum. The loss of our beloved family members and those who are scattered in refugee camps is a bitter, unforgettable experience," Belo said in his letter, a copy of which was made available to Antara. (emf)