Below are translated summaries of articles from Indonesian
newspapers.For a more complete translation of any of the following
articles, please send me your request, and I will forward it to the
translator. Please include the name of the newspaper/s, date/s, and
article title/s. -- EH
Newspaper key: NTT X _ NTT Ekspres; PK _ Pos Kupang; ST _ Surya Timor;
RT _ Radar Timor
English language newspapers available online:
The Indonesian Observer _ www.indonesian-observer.com
Jakarta Post _ www.thejakartapost.com
Tuesday, 7 Nov. 2000
NTT X _ "Not true that Maluku provincial government doesn't know:
Refugee relocation plan to Wetar island"
KUPANG -- Head of the NTT Human Relations Bureau, Yohanis Kosapilawan
said it isn't true that the provincial govt. of Maluku has said it
doesn't know about the central government's plan for a relocation
program for E. Timor refugees on Wetar and surrounding islands. He
spoke in relation to a statement made by Maluku Vice Gov., Paul Renyaan
Bataona who said he knew nothing of the program and hadn't been involved
in it. He said that although as an institution the Maluku and NTT
governments had not yet spoken, nevertheless the visit by Team 17,
headed by the Head of Maluku Public Works, Bob Mahulette, to Womintra
Foundation in the middle of Sept. was proof that the Maluku government
knows about the plan. Furthermore, at that time Tim 17 gathered
authentic data on Wetar that had already been compiled by the Womintra
Working Group. Meanwhile, Womintra Director, Susy Katipana said that
she was visited by Team 17 from the Maluku government in the middle of
Sept. "They came to my office for two or three days to ask for data
about Wetar. They also said they really needed the data for direct
socialization in Wetar," said Susy. She added that the visit by Tim 17
involved representatives from several contractors who said they
supported the government's plan. Further proof of the Maluku
government's knowledge was seen during the recent visit by the team of
Task Force members and refugees to Wetar where road equipment to build a
road was seen. "This project is a Maluku public works project. We were
told by Mr. Bob to build a highway in stages from Ilwaki to Lurang,"
said Abdoen, a worker with a private road company. According to the
Task Force Head, Basyruddin Yusuf, the Task Force sent a letter to the
central government in mid-October suggesting that a meeting with the
Maluku provincial government be held to discuss the relocation plan.
NTT X _ "Village officials target of E. Timorese rage"
ATAMBUA _ A number of government officials in villages holding refugees
have become targets of refugee anger because the distribution of rice
and money for food supplements has not been evenly distributed to all
refugee locations. On Monday (6/11) Antara reported from Atambua that a
number of officials were forced to report the threats they had received
from refugees to the Social Dept. and House of Reps. in Belu. Village
officials are the last distribution point and a number are worried about
their safety because when they distribute aid and there isn't enough to
go around, they are the ones who are targets of refugee anger. E.g.,
Chief of Dualaus Village in W. Tasifeto Assistant sub-regency, Patrus
Pani, says he has been threatened with violence three times. He is
responsible for distributing 16,796 tons of rice and more than 48
million rupiah to 8,369 refugees (based on data from the Belu Social
Dept.) whereas the camp coordinator in that village claims there are
9,065 refugees. The aid he received for distribution arrived suddenly
with no prior coordination to check if it matched with data on refugees
in that area. "The aid came suddenly, and when we wanted to distribute
it we were lacking and the refugees got angry and threatened village
officials. We were quite anxious because there is already evidence that
the refugees will beat local citizens and furthermore have been brave
enough to threaten security forces in the region," said Pani. Although
the Social Dept. has said it will give more aid, Pani said he was still
worried about the refugees' threats. Distribution of aid, which began
on 2 Nov., has also given rise to problems in Kabuna Village, also in W.
Tasifeto Assistant sub-regency. One refugee in this village complained
directly to the Social Dept., "We received only 8 tons of aid when it
should have been 21 tons in accordance with all the refugees in the
village. More aid must immediately be given so that the refugees don't
have regret and do something that is unwanted," he said.
NTT X _ "Refugees asked to guard against infectious disease"
ATAMBUA _ Head of the health division of the PMP Task Force, Dr. Manaor
Napitupulu, has reminded refugees to guard against infectious diseases
because the rainy season has arrived. Living in emergency tents and the
onset of the rainy season will join to worsen health conditions for
refugees who will be vulnerable to malaria and diarrhea. These two
illnesses, he continued, are the main illnesses faced by refugees and
that it is anticipated the number of those ill and who die will
increase. In anticipation of health problems, the Task Force is working
together with the Belu Health Dept. and Atambua hospital to observe
refugees' health conditions before they leave their tents to return to
E. Timor. For those staying in Indonesia, the Task Force health
division will coordinate with Social Health Dept. to give health
services in accordance with standard procedures by serving refugees in
each health center. To reduce the spread of infectious disease he
suggested that refugees maintain a healthy life-style, e.g., by throwing
trash in designated trash sites. "Besides that, the refugees themselves
must begin to increase their nutrition by consuming enough fruits and
vegetables," said Napitupulu. One way to help with nutrition is to get
the refugees in locations, either back in E. Timor or in resettlement
locations, where they can grow fruits and vegetables for themselves.
NTT X _ "Condition of babies cause for concern"
ATAMBUA _ The condition of babies of E. Timor refugee from Ermera and
Dili now in refugee sites in Atambua is cause for concern. On Monday
(6/11) two babies were in the Atambua hospital and tens of others in
poor condition were still in the camps. In the past two days, two
babies have died in refugee sites in Atambua due to lack of food and
health services. Despite a letter from the PMP Task Force to Belu
Regent Bere to immediately involve relevant agencies in the region in
the development of health care for refugees, the Belu Disaster Relief
Coordinating Body hasn't yet done much. Sister Sisilia of the East
Indonesian Women's Health Network responded to the problem when she and
Mrs. Sri Bayu, wife of PMP Task Force Head, Basyruddin, carried sick
babies to the Atambua hospital. Prior to this, Sister Sisilia had
reported to the PMP Task Force that a number of refugees in Atambua were
suffering from various chronic diseases such as coughing up blood and
needed help immediately. The Task Force responded by involving the Belu
Disaster Relief agency, but until now no efforts to respond have been
made by the Belu government. "There are a lot of refugee babies whose
health condition is cause for great concern and if this is allowed to
continue, then for sure there will be a continuing impact, what more
these babies aren't being cared for well," said Sister Sisilia.
NTT X _ "20 households of TNI civilian employees protest"
KUPANG _ As many as 20 refugee households of TNI civilian employees
living in Penfui, Maulafa sub-regency [close to the Kupang airport] have
protested the insufficient aid for them. Normally each month they
receive 70 kg. of rice/month for a five member family, but for October
they received only 50 kg. This was reported by Untas staff member, Ely,
to the Untas Vice Sec. Gen., Clementino Castelo Brando, on Sat. (4/11).
According to Ely, the refugees don't yet know the reason for the cut and
were surprised to receive 50 instead of 70 kg. He suggested that to
reduce misunderstanding that the distribution of aid involve Untas so
that if there is a reeducation according to a decision by aid donors,
the refugees can he helped to understand. However, if the reduction is
caused by field workers and unknown to the aid donor, Ely is considered
there will be more protests. Meanwhile, Untas Sec. Gen. Filomeno Ornae
and Vice Sec. Gen. Brando [?!] who were asked to comment on the refugees
protest said they hadn't yet received a report from the refugees and
Filomeno added he would check the truth of the protest. He stressed
that refugees who receive aid must understand that all work is sure to
have weaknesses. They shouldn't forget the goodness extended by the NTT
government all this time just because of a little shortage.
PK _ "30 E. Timor refugees involved in criminal cases"
ATAMBUA _ UN police in E. Timor have examined 300 of the 180,130
refugees who have returned to their villages in E. Timor. Of the 300,
30 are suspects in criminal cases carried out in E. Timor after the
referendum announcement on 4 Sept. 1999. This is according to a UNPKF
report by commander of the W. region in E. Timor, Brig. Gen. Gillespie
shared in a meeting with members of the PMP Task Force at the UNPKF post
in Sakoto Village, Oekussi on Monday (6/11).. Concerning the 30
suspects, PMP Task Force Human Relations staff for W. Timor, Lt. Col.
Teguh Wiyono, told reporters after the meeting that the 30 were under
intense investigation by civilian police in E. Timor. "This indicates
the law is now being applied in E. Timor." Teguh went on to say that
there was no excessive harshness or random arrests in E. Timor.
"Behavior towards refugees in E. Timor is good because there is law
enforcement in E. Timor." He said that with improved law enforcement
the repatriation of refugees can improve and that law enforcement can
convince refugees interested in returning to E. Timor. According to
Teguh, the UNPKF Commander said the law applies not only to E. Timorese
just returning to E. Timo who committed crimes in the past, but also to
those who have committed crimes during this transition period. The law
applies equally to all E. Timorese whether or not they fled to
Indonesia. PMP Task Force Head, Basyruddin, said that it was agreed
that the 200-400 refugees from Oekussi who are in the Napan region of
NTT (only about 5 kilometers from the border) may walk into Oekussi and
don't need to be specially delivered. So they are invited to return
whenever they want.
ST _ "Social Welfare Dept. Vehicle Confiscated for 6 Hours"
KUPANG _ When Social Welfare officials distributed cash supplements to
the Tuapukan camp on Saturday, they brought only Rp. 100,000,000, which
wasn't enough. When refugees received only Rp. 15,000 each for the
month, instead of the expected Rp. 37,500, they held three officials and
their vehicle hostage for six hours. Police were able to negotiate
their release. It was not clear at press time whether charges would be
filed.
ST _ "Report from Wetar: There are also those who reject refugees"
WETAR _ Demonstrating one's feelings on signs and banners and making
speeches in an atmosphere of democracy is not confined to big cities.
Even in Wetar there are demonstrations. Five villages indicated their
objections to plans to resettle refugees in Wetar. According to the
village mayors, the people were at first in favor of the plan. But then
they heard about violence in the camps, conflict with local residents in
Tuapukan, Oesao, and Noelbaki, and the murders in Atambua. Some heard
the news on UNTAET radio broadcasts from Dili; others were influenced by
NTT officials who are natives of the island. "We hear that the
refugees are mean, that they fight with the local people and even burn
people's houses. Finally we decided not to accept them, because we
never have such problems in our villages," said one village leader.
Another added that if the refugees behaved that way with all the police
around in West Timor, it would be even worse in Wetar, where there are
no police. Others added that they had no arable land to spare. A group
of young people voiced similar concerns on the island of Roma.
RT reports that of 24 villages, 17 agreed "sincerely" to accept
refugees. None of the five protesting villages were on the list of
planned resettlement sites. An NTT government spokesman said funds for
building a harbor, schools, houses and health clinics to serve the
refugees would be in the 2001 national budget.
ST _ "Ainaro Refugees Ready to Go Home"
ATAMBUA _ UNTAS advisory board member Apoli da Silva announced that at
least 13,000 refugees from the Ainaro area were ready to return to their
villages rather than face relocation to Wetar. The announcement
followed a report from fellow refugees who visited Wetar last week. Da
Silva said that it se emed no one in Wetar really wanted the refugees,
and that they would face an uncertain future should they go there.
After taking an informal poll in the Kobalima, Betun, and Boas areas, da
Silva reported the majority of refugees from Ainaro wanted to go home.
They hoped to return before Christmas and begin preparing their fields
for planting. Da Silva called on the Indonesian government, UNTAS, and
UNTAET to provide guarantees of safety and facilitate the refugees'
return. B. Yusuf of the PMP Taskforce promised full cooperation.
In other news, hundreds of refugees in the Nunpo area of TTU complained
that they had received no aid for the past three months.
RT _ "Refugees ask for clarity about resettlement"
ATAMBUA _ 339 families, or 1,037 refugees in the Umaklaren area of Belu
asked local government to clarify who was to inhabit newly built
resettlement housing. After they moved in, local residents came and
told them to leave because the houses were for locals. The housing
distribution was to be settled based on a raffle, but local residents
were apparently not in agreement with the results. The refugees
indicated their willingness to leave the houses in order to avoid
conflict, but wanted to know where they should go.
RT _ "East Timor Human Rights Cases can Now be Tried"
JAKARTA _ After Monday's passing of the bill creating a human rights
court, cases of serious violations of human rights in East Timor can now
be tried in Jakarta's National Court. According to Minister of Justice
and Human Rights Yusril Mahendra, cases occurring before the law was
passed can still be tried by a special ad hoc court without violating
existing laws on retroactivity.
RT _ "Tavares considered out of date"
KUPANG _ Former PPI leader Nemencio Carvalho criticized Joao Tavares for
his recent threats, saying Tavares still hadn't given up the goal of a
violent take-over of East Timor. According to Nemencio they needed to
learn from the past, forsake violence, and stop treating their former
opponents as enemies. Nemencio added that he did not fear Tavares'
threats because he too had a large number of followers in Atambua. He
planned to move to Jakarta in order to be nearer the center of
information and to continue the cause of pro-integration through
diplomacy.
Meanwhile, village mayors in the Atambua have complained to the Social
Welfare Department that they have been repeatedly threatened by refugees
who are dissatisfied with the amount of aid they are receiving.
RT _ UNTAS News:
KUPANG _ UNTAS spokesman Mario Vieira urged members to think carefully
and in an "adult" fashion before reacting. The statement was in
relation to the ongoing conflict between UNTAS and four former militia
leaders who have appealed to the UN Security Council. Vieira denied the
four had been expelled from UNTAS.
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