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DATE=11/9/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=UNHCR / TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255968
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO:  The U-N Refugee Agency says it is gravely 
concerned by the continued harassment and intimidation 
of aid workers and East Timorese refugees by 
militiamen in West Timor.  Lisa Schlein in Geneva 
reports the Agency says the militias are trying to 
prevent thousands of refugees from returning to their 
homes in East Timor.
TEXT:  The U-N Refugee Agency says there has been a 
series of incidents in which militiamen in the Kupang 
and Atambua regions in West Timor harassed relief 
workers and refugees trying to return.  At least 18 
such incidents were reported in the border town of 
Atambua.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman, Kris Janowski, says the 
militiamen have resorted to various forms of 
intimidation.  The tactics include physical attacks, 
stoning vehicles, shooting guns in the air, and verbal 
abuse.  He says the Refugee Agency has sent a message 
to Indonesia's Foreign Minister expressing its grave 
concern and informing the Minister that the 
perpetrators of the incidents have not been punished.  
            /// JANOWSKI ACT ///
      Essentially, our message to the Indonesian 
      government is that this is a new government, 
      which is trying to launch new policies in many 
      ways, and we expect this (Indonesian) government 
      also to introduce a new policy on West Timor, 
      and essentially reign in the militias and enable 
      all these East Timorese who want to go back, to 
      go back. 
            /// END ACT ///
The United Nations estimates more than 50-thousand 
refugees have returned to East Timor.  This includes 
nearly 18-thousand who have returned without U-N 
assistance.  
Mr. Janowski says these returns have been relatively 
easy because these refugees have been hosted by people 
who have no objection to their leaving West Timor.  He 
says aid workers are now picking up people who are 
staying in camps controlled by the militias.  He says 
it is becoming increasingly risky for aid workers.  
            /// 2ND JANOWSKI ACT ///
      In the letter to the Indonesians, we are saying 
      that we are ready to continue our work in West 
      Timor, but the risks that our staff is exposed 
      to have to be reasonable.  And, the multitude of 
      incidents over the past few days indicate that 
      we are getting close to the line on whether it's 
      reasonable or not. 
            /// END ACT ///
More than 200-thousand refugees are living in squalid 
camps in West Timor.  They either fled or were 
forcibly deported from East Timor by militias and 
Indonesian soldiers in the violent aftermath of the 
August 30th pro-independence referendum.   (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/GE/LTD/RAE
09-Nov-1999 09:17 AM EDT (09-Nov-1999 1417 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.