EAST TIMOR

ARTHUR HELTON, Council on Foreign Relations Senior Fellow, May 20, 2002
CZIKOWSKY: One problem I see with the growing tendency of many countries to close their borders to immigrants is that there is a lack of recognition of need for many refuges to feel clear dangers. What is the situation of refugees in East Timor?
HELTON: Refugee displacements are almost always a part of the consequences of international crises. When the pro-Jakarta militia sacked East Timor, over 500,000 or 800,000 inhabitants were displaced, including 200,000 refugees who fled to West Timor. There, they remained intimidated and controlled by militia elements. Many have since returned, but others remain exiled, afraid that vigilant justice awaits them when they repatriate. That is one of the reasons why it is so important to ensure a strong legal system to bring to justice perpetrators of abuses in 1999.