DATE=8/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=U-N / TIMOR (L ONLY)
NUMBER=2-265140
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The United Nations has suspended the
repatriation of East Timorese refugees from West Timor
because of continued militia attacks against the
refugees and aid workers. Lisa Schlein reports from
Geneva.
TEXT: The International Organization for Migration
(I-O-M) transports East Timorese refugees home under
the United Nations repatriation program. But the
agency has been forced to suspend the operation
because of increasing security concerns.
I-O-M spokesman Jean-Philippe Chauzy says some staff
members have received death threats and the militias
have intimidated and harassed refugees who were
signing up to go home.
Mr. Chauzy says the United Nations will assess the
situation Wednesday in hopes of re-starting the
program. But he says the agency still is demanding
that Indonesian authorities come up with the necessary
security guarantees.
/// CHAUZY ACT ///
We're just getting sick and tired of this
problem and we do not have our personnel in West
Timor to be threatened by militias. On
Wednesday, grenades were basically waived in
front of our personnel, saying next time you
come we promise these grenades will be thrown in
your trucks. We don't want that to happen and
we don't want to take the risk either for the
returnees or for our personnel or any other
international personnel present in West Timor.
/// END ACT ///
The United Nations refugee agency (U-N-H-C-R) says
tensions remain high in the camps for East Timorese
refugees. It says fighting broke out Friday among
refugees in a camp outside the West Timorese capital,
Kupang, forcing aid workers to stop food distribution
and to leave.
U-N-H-C-R spokesman Ron Redmond says the problems have
forced the agency into what he calls a cooling-off
period. He says the United Nations has scaled down
its activities in the camps, but food distribution and
other essential assistance is continuing.
Mr. Redmond says the refugee agency is concerned about
reports that Indonesian authorities want to close down
the camps.
/// REDMOND ACT ///
Something's got to be done for these people.
There are still over 100-thousand people who
require assistance. So U-N-H-C-R is trying to
get information on that. But, the situation
remains for us, for I-O-M, for our other
partners that are trying to find a durable
solution for these people -- the separation of
militia members, particularly from the camp
populations has got to be carried out.
/// END ACT ///
Otherwise, Mr. Redmond says, aid workers will not be
able to effectively carry out their work in the
refugee camps and will not be able to help the East
Timorese to return home. (Signed)
NEB/LS/JWH/JP
04-Aug-2000 09:41 AM LOC (04-Aug-2000 1341 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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