In East Timor, pro-autonomy leader pledges
to help foster refugee returns
19 December--
A former pro-autonomy leader visiting Dili this week has pledged to "do his utmost" to persuade refugees in West Timor to return to East Timor. The pledge by Joćo Corbafu was made yesterday during a meeting with Sergio Vieira de Mello, the head of UNTAET. Mr. Corbafu, who is in the territory for a week-long "come and see" visit, told Mr. Vieira de Mello that he had found East Timor "safe and secure" and that some 10,000 refugees from Oecussi would be willing to go back to their homes, given assurances of safety. The former pro-autonomy leader is scheduled to return to West Timor on 20 December.
In other news, the rehabilitation of 100 schools throughout East Timor has started under UNTAET's Emergency School
Readiness Project, the UN mission said in a statement issued today in Dili. Basic materials, such as cement, tools and timber have been distributed. Some 1,000 teachers are currently being recruited and will be ready to start working by the end of January. Fifty schools have already been refurbished under this project.
