THIS IS a near verbatim transcript of a media briefing by Bernard Kerblat, the UNHCR Chief of Operations
May 8, 2000 Dili
Good morning ladies and gentlemen, my name is Bernard Kerblat, Chief of Operations.
I would like to have a few words on the repatriation, where we stand as of now.
Since October 8 there have been 160,000 people who have returned to East Timor from Indonesia and other countries, through the combined efforts of UNHCR/IOM operation.
Last week was the thirtieth week with a record low of 65 persons who have returned to East Timor.
Of these 65 persons, they have returned in three movements. Two movements took place by air, one from Darwin (48), in fact from Sydney, over stopping in Darwin, on 5 May, one Atambua-Dili via Motaain, ten persons on 4 May, and the last one was Jakarta-Dili by air, 7 persons, on 3 May.
We analyze, in connection with our colleagues in the West, that there is a combination of several reasons, which could possibly explain the decrease of numbers. The reasons are complex and inter linked with each other.
First one is that it looks as if we are losing the propaganda war launched by UNTAS, on the other side.
The second one is the perception that the refugees in West Timor have about a so-called degradation of the security climate in East Timor.
The third one is some institutional or technical delays encountered in the payment of pensions, salaries of the ex-TNI civil servants who are still in West Timor, some of them are interested in returning to East Timor.
And the last reasons invoked by some of the refugees especially in the Betun and Atambua area, is the fear of having missed the planting cycle, and their fear for their own food security upon return to East Timor.
On the propaganda front, I would like to quote one anecdote which is, I think, rather symptomatic of the climate prevailing right now in West Timor.
On May 3, our office in Kupang received information from a refugee travelling from Atambua, and forwarded to our office by one of the deputies of Mr. Joanico, that a refugee was arrested and killed in Dili upon return. His name is Mr. Salomão da Cruz, he is from Maliana.
After launching a search through our network with our colleagues from CivPol, UNHCR field officer in Maliana found Mr. Salomão da Cruz on 4 May. Mr. Salomão da Cruz is like you and I, he is perfectly happy and alive, and he is very happy to be back in East Timor.
A couple of things: Mr. Salomão da Cruz never came to Dili but returned via Motaain, Batugade, on Saturday 8 April. On 10 April, he was, because he returned by himself, he was questioned first by PKF and offered shelter on the night of the 10th by PKF as he did not have any house to stay.
On the following morning, on 11th, CivPol accompanied him with UNHCR to mediate on his behalf in order to find alternative shelter arrangements.
The conclusion from this sad story that was transcribed in some of the media in West Timor is that Mr. Salomão da Cruz, according to certain accounts, was detained, which is a big difference from being in protective custody and being helped to reintegrate. Or, according to other accounts, he had been killed, which is wrong and false.
As a matter of fact, Mr. Salomão da Cruz has stated to us in absence of a witness that he is quite annoyed about all these rumors about himself, and that he wants the people who are propagating these kinds of rumors to come and see by themselves that he is well and alive and happy to benefit from visits undertaken by CivPol and UNHCR.
That was just one case, but there are many more, to illustrate the kind of climate that is pervading in the West, that we are trying to address.
Q: You said that you are losing the war of propaganda. Why do you believe that?
A: UNHCR does not run a propaganda campaign, UNHCR strives at channeling facts to the refugees to enable them to make informed decisions in regard to their return. We are not receiving our salaries in accordance to the number of people that have returned to East Timor. We are simply struggling to make facts and information available to refugees to make informed decisions. The repatriation does not constitute the only durable solution available to refugees. Some of them who wish to, could also avail the possibility of locally integrate in Indonesia, should they wish to do so.
Q: But you yourself said that you were losing the battle against propaganda, so why is that.
A: No, what we are witnessing, analyzing the figures, is what I said. This is the thirtieth week and the lowest record numbers, so we assume that the propaganda efforts launched on the other side are bearing their fruits.
We do a daily analysis of the press, we now have more or less free unhindered access to the camps, and we take the pulse from the camps and we have done a cross section of interviews with refugees, trying to understand why this particular week people did not return.
Q: But you sent a video message by Xanana and Bishop Belo. That didn t have any effect?
A: Well, they have an effect, but psychologically you have to understand that a message coming from a foreign organization as opposed to coming from its own leadership. Nonetheless, there are a couple of measures in place to facilitate the spreading of ideas.
A couple of things have been launched, back in November, and have been adjusted according to the new situation. Number one, mass information campaign, which is ongoing, as I am speaking to you. Whereby we have changed our tactics now, what we do now is as soon as we pick up a Mr. Da Cruz-type of rumor, the same day we address it. The same day, we go with a digital camera, interview the person, go back to the camp and say, Ok, Mr. Da Cruz has been killed? Here he is, on video. So that s one.
Second are the cross border family reunions, which take place, as you know, on a weekly basis. They have had a very positive impact on channeling the correct type of information. When refugees here found their family members, that he is alive and is fine, and that the general security climate allows them to return in East Timor, that is irreplaceable in terms of convincing arguments.
Third one, we still promote go and see visits across the borders for certain groups of leaders who are interested in entering into a dialogue, as opposed to vindictive statements and desires to engage in activities incompatible with refugee status and fourth, the cross border exchange of mails, which is increasing, every month. Just to give you an idea, we have an average of 3,000 to 3,500 mails every month that are exchanged on both sides of the border.
Any other questions?
Q: Is it true that in the refugee camps in West Timor women are forced into prostitution?
A: We have received certain indications that in certain camps indeed there are instances of prostitution. Whether it is organized or not, we don t know, but prostitution organized in which some TNI personnel had been involved is indeed correct.
And our office in Kupang is taken it up with the appropriate authorities. That s one. Two, on the question of militia involved in prostitution activities, first of all, our first handicap is that you can t see on the front of a person whether this person is a militia or not. So as long as these people are in camps, as far as the UNHCR is concerned, they are refugees. Now, it is not because you are a refugee that you are to engage in unlawful activities, so indeed, it is quite possible that among the people who have been involved, refugees have been involved in prostitution activities. Indeed, we do not exclude the possibility that there might be some ex militia involved in this activity.
Q : So it is true
A: Yes, as I said, indeed, we confirmed that there have been instances of prostitution, the degree of course has not been known at this point in time. However it is expected that the degree of collusion is quite high from the position holding powers on the ground. We are still working on that. We would be more than happy to welcome any concrete fact and allegation that you might have in your position to assist us in pursuing our objective. It is unacceptable from the UNHCR point of view that the most vulnerable of the refugee population woman is forced into this type of activities. And we would be welcoming any sort of additional information you may have, after this briefing, in order for us to keep on working.
But we do know about it, and we are taking concrete steps and we are reminding the government of Indonesia, who is responsible for the welfare and security of the refugees, that it is incumbent upon themselves to take whatever steps they can in order to stop this kind of activities. Muito obrigado.
