| Subject: East
Timorese protest return of Indonesian Muslims
East Timorese protest return of
Indonesian Muslims
DILI, East Timor, Dec 31 (AFP) - Several
dozens Muslims who fled the recent violence in East Timor returned home to
a protest by East Timorese who said they are not welcome, a UN official
said Friday.
The 63 Muslims who flew back to Dili on
Thursday were almost overwhelmingly of Indonesian origin, said Sidney
Jones, who heads the humanitarian division of the UN Transitional
Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).
"The people were taken to the mosque
and there was some protest by the community that more Indonesians
shouldn't be allowed to return. It's not clear what the origins of their
anger were but there had been some dispute over their activities in the
local market," Jones said.
She did not know the number of
protesters.
International peacekeepers were sent to
the mosque along with representatives of the National Council of Timorese
Resistance (CNRT), said Major General Peter Cosgrove, who heads the
International Force in East Timor (Interfet).
"It was a worrying moment or
two," Cosgrove said, adding the crowd dispersed without incident.
Jones said the Islamic refugees had no
desire to stay in Indonesia.
Sergio Vieira de Mello, who heads the
UNTAET mission, said the Muslims are entitled to stay in East Timor.
The predominantly Catholic land is moving
toward independence under UN administration after Indonesia approved the
territory's separation a ballot there that was followed by a pro-Jakarta
militia campaign of violence backed by Indonesian armed forces.
The violence followed an August 30 ballot
in which East Timorese voted to reject an offer of autonomy with
Indonesia, which invaded the former Portuguese colony in 1975.
"As far as I am aware, they are
entitled to remain here. They left like others in fears because their
houses were destroyed. They wish to remain here and they should be allowed
to do so irresepective of their religion," de Mello said.
The incident came near the end of the
month-long Islamic fasting month of Ramadan.
At the start of Ramadan, members of
Dili's largest mosque told AFP that despite some threats from local
residents, they wanted to stay here. They said the CNRT president, Xanana
Gusmao, had already visited to say they were welcome in East Timor.
Members of the mosque, which has more
than 200 members, said Muslims have been in East Timor for about 500
years.
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