Refugees of East Timor Demand Compensation

Monday, 04 December, 2006 | 16:07 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Kupang: Refugees of East Timor who are living in the East Nusa Tenggara region have demonstrated at the Regional House of Representatives to demand compensation as the government promised.

The assets include homes and plots in East Timor, now Timor Leste­after the1999 referendum. People have also urged that the government be transparent in managing funds of Rp72 billion for the housing of 5,000 refugees' families.

These refugees have considered themselves as victims of Indonesia's political policy, which was disavowed in evacuating refugees of East Timor.

“Up to now, we are still inhabiting the emergency huts. We sleep on the ground and we eat whatever food we found. We are neglected. All relief aid is stopped,” said Sartino da Silva, one of the refugees that settled in the Noelbaki Village, Kupang Regency.

Jems De Fortuna

www.tempointeractive.com/hg/nasional/2006/12/04/brk,20061204-88905,uk.html