24 September 1999
Text: Summary of Sept. 24 UNHCR Briefing on Timor, Sierra Leone
(Interviews show planned forcible removal of East Timorese) (860)
Interviews conducted by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) revealed that removal of East Timorese to other parts of
Indonesia has been "well-planned" and "well-organized," particularly
intended to separate families, according to UNHCR Spokesman Kris
Janowski.
In a September 24 press briefing at Palais des Nations in Geneva,
Janowski said intimidation and forcible deportation by militias is
still persist in Dili and UNHCR staff have asked Australian
peacekeepers to alert the port area to prevent further deportations.
The refugee agency, Janowski said, is mounting its relief operation in
Timor: supplying foods and clothes to displaced people in East Timor
and tailoring a plan of operations in West Timor.
In other news, the spokesman said Liberian authorities permitted the
transfer of thousands of Sierra Leonean refugees from a temporary site
to an established camp. The figure of Sierra Leonean refugees in
Liberia is estimated 90,000.
Following is the text of the summary:
(begin text)
24 September 1999
Kris Janowski - Public Information Section
1) - Timor
2) - Sierra Leonean refugee transfer approved in Liberia
This is an uncorrected summary of what was said by the UNHCR
spokesperson at today's Palais des Nations press briefing.
1) - Timor
The first interviews done by UNHCR with East Timorese in Dili indicate
an alarming pattern of well-planned and well-organized forcible
removal of East Timorese to other parts of Indonesia. The first
testimonies show that there was a clear pattern of separation of
families, with members of the same families spread around different
islands of Indonesia. It is too early to say how many people were
affected but the numbers were certainly substantial.
Attempts to intimidate and forcibly remove East Timorese by sea were
still being made in Dili harbor after the arrival of the first
Australian peacekeepers, when militia gangs switched from gun and
machete brandishing to lower-key but still deadly methods of
intimidation.
UNHCR staff managed to alert the Australians who secured the port area
to prevent further deportations. The people are now safe under the
peacekeepers' guard in the Dili stadium (200 persons) and a secured
port area (500 persons). Only UNHCR has access to them and we are now
able to verify the voluntariness of any departures.
On Thursday only 3 Javanese families expressed their wish to leave for
Java.
The relief operation meanwhile is gathering momentum: this morning 9
tons of plastic sheeting as well as jerry cans and medical kits for
30,000 people were airlifted to Dili. Two truckloads of supplies were
immediately taken to Dare where there are an estimated 67,000
displaced people. A second airlift will follow later today. A barge is
also arriving from Darwin with other supplies.
A four-member UNHCR team is headed for West Timor together with
representatives of other UN agencies and the government. The group is
supposed to set up a plan of operations for West Timor.
The issue of international access to West Timor's overcrowded camps,
often ruled by anti-independence militias, is absolutely crucial to
give at least some relief and protection to the people in the camps
and to ensure that all those who want to go back to East Timor will be
allowed to do so.
2) - Sierra Leonean refugee transfer approved in Liberia
Liberian authorities approved Tuesday the transfer from a temporary
site of thousands of Sierra Leonean refugees who had trekked 100 kms
after insecurity last month prompted them to flee camps in Kolahun,
northern Liberia. UNHCR had asked the Government two weeks ago for
permission to move the refugees to an established camp.
UNHCR immediately sent a first convoy of trucks to Tarvey, 200 kms
from Monrovia, where more than 9,000 Sierra Leoneans have sought
safety and assistance. 308 refugees were moved Wednesday to a camp at
Sinje which with 5,000 refugees has space for another 15,000 to 20,000
people. Convoys will ferry people every three days to the site, which
is in Cape Mount County.
The refugees began moving to Tarvey in late August after armed attacks
on villages around Kolahun forced aid workers to pull out of the area.
In the last 10 days almost 5,000 Sierra Leoneans reached Tarvey,
quitting Kolahun in increasing numbers as fear that aid agencies would
not be able to return to the area grew. Basic supplies and medical
care are still being ferried to Kolahun by helicopter, but UNHCR and
NGOs have not been allowed by the military to return by road for
security reasons.
Over 900 refugees arrived in Tarvey in the past two days after the
five-days' walk through the forest. Several thousand more are reported
to be on their way.
An estimated 300 to 400 elderly, handicapped, or ill Sierra Leoneans
remain in Kolahun, unable to make the arduous trip on foot. UNHCR has
requested an armed escort for a convoy to transport the group to
Sinje, and hopes to get approval today, Friday.
There are 90,000 Sierra Leonean refugees in Liberia, around 35,000 of
whom were in northern Lofa County before the recent insecurity.
(end text)
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