DATE=3/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=TIMOR / REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-260169
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations says some anti-independence
East Timorese refugees have asked for help to return
home from camps in West Timor. Lisa
Schlein reports from Geneva.
TEXT: The U-N Refugee Agency says more than one-
thousand East Timorese have moved out of three major
refugee camps around the West Timorese capital,
Kupang. The agency says this is the largest number of
refugees to have left the camps since the repatriation
program started in October.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman, Kris Janowski says the majority
of these people served in the Indonesian army or were
associated with the Indonesian government in East
Timor. He adds that their return is a positive
development.
/// JANOWSKI ACT ///
This may be an early sign of some sort of a
breakthrough on the return of this most
difficult group from West Timor to East Timor.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Janowski says the refugees are at a transit camp
in Kupang awaiting arrangements for their return home.
He says 450 of them are scheduled to leave by boat for
the East Timorese capital, Dili. He says the rest of
the group comes from a town near Dili, which is
considered a pro-independence stronghold. Mr.
Janowski says before they are returned, the U-N
Refugee Agency wants assurances from the East Timorese
political leaders and the U-N administration that the
refugees will be safe.
/// 2ND JANOWSKI ACT ///
The good news is that we have got these one-
thousand people coming out of these very, very
hardline encampments where a lot of intimidation
had actually taken place and where a number of
international officials, including our own
people, were actually stoned at some point.
And, these people are now coming out of these
camps saying O-K we are willing to give up our
membership in the Indonesian army and go back to
East Timor.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Janowski says the repatriation process had slowed
down considerably. He says the return of these anti-
independence refugees is raising hopes that the
process will begin picking up.
Since October, more than 150-thousand East Timorese
refugees have returned home. In the weeks following
the August 30th vote for independence, about one-
quarter million people fled to West Timor. (SIGNED)
NEB/LS/GE/RAE
14-Mar-2000 11:38 AM EDT (14-Mar-2000 1638 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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