DATE=12/3/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-256793
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations Refugee Agency, U-N-H-C-R,
says the repatriation program in East Timor has
reached a critical stage. Lisa Schlein in Geneva
reports the agency says continued intimidation by pro-
Jakarta militias has resulted in a sharp drop in the
number of East Timorese refugees volunteering to go
home.
TEXT: The U-N Refugee Agency reports its aid workers
repatriated fewer than 250 people to East Timor on
Friday -- the lowest number of returnees since the
agency began repatriations on October 8th. So far,
more than 100-thousand East Timorese have returned
home. An estimated 150-thousand others remain in West
Timor and other parts of Indonesia. U-N-H-C-R
spokesman Ron Redmond says conditions for those
remaining in the refugee camps are terrible.
/// 1st REDMOND ACT ///
There are several outstanding issues here. And,
unless these problems are resolved, we see only
a handful of people going back in the coming
days, as conditions in these camps worsen. And
we're seeing people dying in the camps as well
because of those very bad conditions.
/// END ACT ///
Local authorities report at least 35 people -- 32 of
them children under age five -- have died of various
ailments, primarily diarrhea and malaria. These
deaths occurred between November 22nd and December
1st. Mr. Redmond says he fears many more people may
die as sanitary conditions in the squalid camps
continue to deteriorate. He says the rainy season is
making things worse and also is hampering access to
remote refugee camps. Mr. Redmond says harassment and
a campaign of misinformation by militias is hampering
the returns.
/// 2nd REDMOND ACT ///
Although there haven't been any major security
incidents in West Timor in the last few days,
systematic intimidation is continuing. Militias
in the Atambua area with East Timor are
threatening to take hostages from families going
back. In the past couple of weeks, we've
intervened in securing the release of a 16-year
old boy and a 50-year old man who were kidnapped
by militias in two separate incidents.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says militia members on motorcycles also
follow U-N aid workers when they pick up returnees,
and warn the refugees against going back. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/WTW
03-Dec-1999 11:16 AM EDT (03-Dec-1999 1616 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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