Repatriation slows in East Timor: UNHCR
2 May -- The United Nations refugee agency today reported that repatriation from West Timor has decreased dramatically over the past week due to increasing reports of harassment of some returnees inside East Timor.
Speaking to the press in Geneva, a spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that only a few dozen people registered to return to East Timor during the last seven days. The spokesman, Kris Janowski, said the refugees have pointed to reports of intimidation of people suspected of having collaborated with Indonesia during last year's post-referendum violence. Another concern is the possible lack of food until the next harvest.
According to UNHCR, more than 160,000 refugees have been repatriated since last October, largely without problems. To help counter the reports of harassment, the refugee agency will increase the number of its organized "go-and-see" visits, which allow refugee leaders to have a first-hand look at the situation in East Timor, Mr. Janowski said.
In a related development, the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) has ordered the arrest of all people carrying machetes in Dili, after gang violence injured five people over the weekend. The UN mission has also decided to arm its international civilian police force.
