22 November -- The United Nations-authorized multinational force for East Timor and the Indonesian military today signed an agreement that would allow a stepped up repatriation of East Timorese refugees.
The agreement by the International Force in East Timor (INTERFET) and the Indonesian military to set up a Joint Border Commission provides for security arrangements for the overland repatriation of East Timorese refugees in West Timor.
Monday's signing at the border town of Motaain was attended by Sergio Vieira de Mello, the head of the UN Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET), and Richard Holbrooke, United States Ambassador to the UN, who was visiting West Timor for talks with local officials and military and police commanders.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) welcomed today's accord, saying that it hoped the agreement would prompt Indonesian authorities to take decisive steps to control militia activities in camps in West Timor.
UNHCR said that despite continued harassment by militias, more than 5,000 refugees headed home to East Timor on Monday, bringing the overall number of returnees to more than 90,000.
