Precedence: bulk date: 26 May 1999 forwarded from a reliable observer in Kupang EAST TIMOR REFUGEES IN WEST TIMOR Following are some notes on recent developments regarding how the East Timor conflict is affecting West Timor. There are currently an estimated 8,000 refugees in various parts of East Nusatenggara (the province that includes West Timor). A research team has just returned from a survey of East Timor refugees located in Belu, on the West Timor side of the border. They found that the Besi Merah Putih, a pro-integration paramilitary group with backing from the Indonesian army, were operating freely in the area. They have set up bases in border villages and patrol the area looking for pro-independence refugees. Witnesses report that they are sometimes escorted by members of the Indonesian military. Refugees who are captured are then forcibly returned to the East Timor side of the border, and probably killed. Several Merah Putih militia who were interviewed reported that they are paid Rp. 250,000 monthly by members of the Indonesian military, with an additional bonus of Rp. 2,000,000 to Rp. 5,000,000 for every "head" they capture. In the village of Besikama, it was also reported that Merah Putih pay local Belunese informants Rp. 250,000 per head for information leading to the capture of refugees who are considered to be pro-independence. There were also unconfirmed reports that the Besi Merah Putih are being paid entirely with counterfeit money. In Kupang, where there remain about 500 East Timorese university students, those believed to be pro-independence have received death threats if they do not immediately return to East Timor. It is also rumored (the source is a local police chief) that the Besi Merah Putih have at least two groups living in rented houses in Kupang for the purpose of kidnapping pro-independence students. Thus far there have been several beatings of East Timorese students and an attack on a house where one of them rents a room, but there are as yet no reports of kidnappings. Many of the students are without funds, either because their parents have been killed or have fled to the forest, or because banks are refusing to process transfers of funds from East Timor. A small sign of hope is that West Timorese are beginning to show signs of solidarity with the East Timorese among them. Students at Artha Wacana Christian University in Kupang are contributing to a feeding program for East Timorese students, and the Theological Faculty as well as a number of local churches have offered sanctuary. The protestant Regional Communion of Churches of East Nusatenggara and East Timor has also issued a statement calling for the deployment of a substantial UN peacekeeping force and stating, in a pointed reference to the military's involvement, "We are confident that the East Timorese could settle their own conflicts if they were not pitted against one another by a third party." A call to prayer for the East Timorese people will be issued to the approximately 2,000 congregations who are members of the Regional Communion of Churches.*** *********************************************************** Charles Scheiner National Coordinator, East Timor Action Network/US P.O. Box 1182, White Plains, New York 10602 USA Telephone:1-914-428-7299; fax:1-914-428-7383 [EMAIL PROTECTED] PGP key available on request. Check out ETAN's web site: http://www.etan.org For information on East Timor write [EMAIL PROTECTED] ---------- SiaR WEBSITE: http://apchr.murdoch.edu.au/minihub/siarlist/maillist.html
