DATE=10/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / EAST TIMOR REFUGEES (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254606
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency -- U-N-H-C-R
-- says it has received permission from the Indonesian
government to start repatriating East Timorese
refugees from West Timor. Lisa Schlein reports the
Geneva-based agency says it hopes to start airlifting
the refugees back home this week.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency is giving a cautious
welcome to the Indonesian government's decision to
allow the East Timorese refugees to return home.
A spokesman says if the repatriation does go ahead, it
will bring an end to the ordeal of tens of thousands
of miserable people. Many of them were taken to West
Timor against their will when anti-independence
militia began destroying East Timor.
The Indonesia government estimates that about 60
percent of the 230-thousand East Timorese refugees in
West Timor want to go back. U-N-H-C-R spokesman Kris
Janowski says the agency believes many more people
than that want to return home.
/// JANOWSKI ACT ///
But first of all we have to have some sort of
reception capacity in East Timor which has been
largely trashed by the departing anti-
independence militia. Though we have to have a
situation on the ground that will make that
feasible and we have to be prepared to give some
aid to these people once they start landing in
Dili in East Timor.
/// END ACT ///
The U-N agency says it is prepared to airlift the
first refugees back to East Timor. It says the
repatriation will begin as soon as the international
peacekeeping troops decide that the situation is
stable enough. Mr. Janowski says the Timorese capital
of Dili seems to be quite stable, but he says in other
parts of East Timor whole areas have been
systematically destroyed.
/// SECOND JANOWSKI ACT ///
Nonetheless, one has to remember that the people
who are now in these refugee camps -- makeshift
refugee camps in very squalid conditions in West
Timor -- are not much better off there. Plus,
they are being intimidated and terrorized by
anti-independence militia. So, it's not exactly
that they'll be leaving good conditions in West
Timor.
/// END ACT //
Mr. Janowski says U-N aid workers would like to have
free and full access to the East Timorese refugees.
But so far access to the camps in West Timor has been
extremely limited. Indonesian officials insist on
accompanying aid workers.
He says the United Nations wants to see to it that all
returning refugees are treated in an orderly and
dignified way, and U-N workers will want to make sure
all those being repatriated want to go home
voluntarily. (Signed)
Neb/LS/DW/KL
03-Oct-1999 11:44 AM EDT (03-Oct-1999 1544 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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