DATE=7/14/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N-H-C-R / TIMOR (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-264419
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations refugee agency, U-N-H-C-R,
is urging Indonesian authorities to stop what it says
are troublemakers in West Timor who are preventing
East Timorese refugees from returning home. Lisa
Schlein in Geneva reports the agency says violence
against the refugees and aid workers has halted the
repatriation operation.
TEXT: The U-N refugee agency says it condemns what it
calls the continuing violence and steady deterioration
of security in West Timor. It says it is "profoundly
disappointed" by the failure of Indonesian authorities
to stop attacks against relief workers and East
Timorese refugees.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says the harassment by
local people and Timorese militia members has
prevented the United Nations from registering an
estimated 125-thousand East Timorese refugees so they
can return home. He says members of the agency's
international staff have been threatened and attacked.
/// REDMOND ACT ONE ///
Our office in Betun was stoned on three
occasions by besieging crowds. They damaged
several vehicles, office premises, and injured
one staff member. At two sites near Atambua, an
angry crowd barred for almost two hours the
registration staff from leaving the camps. And,
those are some, just some of the incidents that
took place, all of them in the presence of
government security personnel.
/// END ACT ///
Mr. Redmond says a number of the perpetrators have
been identified, but no arrests have been made so
far.
The U-N-H-C-R spokesman says information from the
registration is absolutely vital. Without it, he
says, voluntary repatriation and local integration
plans will continue to be obstructed. And he says
this will worsen an already volatile stand-off between
local residents and the refugees in West Timor.
Mr. Redmond says the local community resents the
refugees in West Timorese camps because of the
pressure they are putting on food and other resources.
/// REDMOND ACT TWO ///
When we are unable to get into those camps, it
means that food and non-food items, other types
of assistance are not getting in there. So,
those people are forced to depend on the local
community, which increases pressure. Then, of
course, you've just got some of these thugs and
former militia members who are living in and
around these camps -- not particularly pleasant
people.
/// END ACT ///
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Redmond says that despite previous
agreements, Indonesian authorities are still not
able or not willing to ensure full and unhindered
access to the refugees.
He says the United Nations will not be able to carry
out its work unless the Indonesian government restores
law and order in West Timor, separates the militias
from the rest of the refugees, and clarifies the
status of East Timorese who formerly were Indonesian
soldiers, policemen, or civil servants. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/JP
14-Jul-2000 08:12 AM EDT (14-Jul-2000 1212 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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