UN urges action to stop intimidation of refugees
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)