AUSTRALIA: THOUSANDS OF EAST TIMORESE REFUGEES CONTINUE TO LIVE IN CAMPS IN DARWIN EAGERLY AWAITING NEWS OF WHEN THEY CAN RETURN HOME

Record ID: 274751

  • Title: AUSTRALIA: THOUSANDS OF EAST TIMORESE REFUGEES CONTINUE TO LIVE IN CAMPS IN DARWIN EAGERLY AWAITING NEWS OF WHEN THEY CAN RETURN HOME
  • Date: 15th September 1999
  • Summary: DARWIN, AUSTRALIA (SEPTEMBER 15, 1999) (REUTERS) 1. SLV REFUGEES 0.08 2. SV MEN SEATED IN CAMPS WITH NUMBER TAGS ON SHIRTS 0.13 3. SV CHILDREN DRINKING CARTONS OF FRUIT JUICE 0.21 4. PAN UP MAN HOLDING CHILD 0.32 5. MV GROUP OF MEN STANDING AROUND 0.39 6. VARIOUS OF REFUGEES 0.47 7. SCU CHILDREN AGAINST WIRE FENCE
  • Embargoed: 30th September 1999 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: DARWIN, AUSTRALIA
  • Country: Australia
  • Reuters ID: LVA2749VGDHKB44GF6UV3Q5YEE4Z
  • Story Text: Thousands of East Timorese refugees continue to live in
    makeshift camps in Darwin - waiting for United Nations
    peacekeeping forces to pave the way for a return to their
    homeland.

    Thousands of refugees in the camps are eagerly awaiting
    the day they can return to East Timor.

    The moment may be close, as Australian military forces
    continued last minute preparations ahead of an eventual United
    Nation's resolution, expected in the next few hours,
    authorising an international force to restore law and order in
    the territory.

    An advance contingent of the troops, led by Australia,
    could be on the ground over the weekend if the council acts
    quickly, both Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Australian
    Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said earlier on Tuesday
    (September 14) from New York.

    On Wedneday, (September 15) a British navy vessel joined
    Australian troops in Darwin.

    Indonesia's armed forces, a parliamentary committee and
    leading politicians have objected to the participation of
    Australia, which has been particularly vocal in criticising
    Indonesia on East Timor.Instead they say the force should be
    composed only of Southeast Asian nations.

    Australia has offered 4,500 troops for the peacekeeping
    mission and has thousands of soldiers on 24-hour alert in
    Darwin, an hour's flight from East Timor.

    Pro-Indonesian militias, aided by the Indonesian army,
    have been on a rampage in the former Portuguese colony that
    Jakarta invaded in 1975 since the announcement that nearly 80
    percent of East Timorese voted on August 30 for independence
    from Indonesia.

    Thousands of people have been killed and tens of
    thousands uprooted from their homes, including many who were
    deported, to West Timor, which is part of Indonesia proper.

    The luckier ones were airlifted to Darwin, Australia
    In the outskirts of Darwin, a tent city of thousands has
    mushroom in the Australian desert.

    Australian police detained a group of people they
    believe may be East Timorese militias or Indonesian military
    who flew into Australia pretending to be refugees from
    strife-torn Dili.

    The United Nations on Tuesday airlifted 1,500 East
    Timorese refugees from its besieged Dili compound, which was
    then closed, saying it could no longer guarantee the safety of
    refugees.
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