Ex-East Timor Refugees: Access to Land Should Be Priority

KOMPAS/FRANSISKUS PATI HERIN

A hut leans precariously on Saturday (15/2/2020) at a former refugee camp in Tuapukan village, East Kupang district, Kupang regency, East Nusa Tenggara. The camp, about 30 kilometers from the provincial capital of Kupang, has continued to be occupied by East Timorese refugees since 4 Sept. 1999, even after their refugee status was lifted.

An affirmative policy in the form of providing land and livable homes with adequate infrastructure is one way to help former refugees from East Timor.

KUPANG, KOMPAS — The shackles of poverty will continue to plague former East Timor refugees as long as they do not have proper housing and access to land for farming activities. Without affirmative policies, it will be difficult to empower them economically. Moreover, their refugee status has long been lifted by the government.