Dili, 16 April 2001
SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO REFUGEE CAMPS

A delegation led by UNTAET’s Chief of Staff N. Parameswaran met thousands of refugees in camps in Indonesian West Timor last week. The visit, with the purpose of having a dialogue with the East Timorese refugees and inform them of the actual situation in East Timor, was described as very successful. “The main concern of the refugees who want to return is their personal security, and we were able to assure them that East Timor is stable and safe” N. Parameswaran said today in Dili. “There were, however, indications that some of the refugees had been instructed to ask questions of a political nature and question the result of the popular consultation,” he added. The visit to the camps in Kupang, Soe, Kefamenanu and Atambua was initiated by the Udayana (Bali and West Timor) Commander Major General William da Costa, who accompanied the delegation for the entire visit. Thousands of posters, brochures and other information materials prepared by UNTAET’s Office of Communication and Public Information were distributed among the refugees. The Chief of Staff also met with the Bishops of Kupang and Atambua, as well as pro-autonomy leaders. Plans are underway to send a ship later this month to pick up from Kupang those refugees who wish to return to East Timor. The East Timorese delegation consisted of representatives from UNTAET, the International Organization for Migration, the Peacekeeping Force and the UN Military Observers.