East Timor closes last displaced camp

East Timor, Jun 17, 2009

On Wednesday (June 17), East Timorese officials began emptying the last remaining camp for displaced people.  Officials said that aid workers began dismantling the Metinaro camp on the outskirts of the capital, Dili, after more than 700 families accepted money in exchange for returning to their homes, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported. The camp was once home to some 9,000 people and was one of some 65 camps built to house over 100,000 people who had been displaced from their homes due to violence over three years ago. In 2006, relative peace in the country was disrupted after the sacking of a third of the country's army. The firing ignited violence that left at least 37 people dead and 155,000 displaced in and around Dili in fighting among different factions of security troops and roving gangs. Additionally, attacks on President Ramos-Horta and Prime Minister Gusmao in February 2008 left Ramos-Horta seriously wounded, and underscored lingering insecurity in the country.  The nation has faced many challenges since voting for independence from Indonesia in 1999, when at least 1,500 people were killed by militias allegedly backed by elements of the Indonesian army. After three years of UN stewardship, East Timor became fully independent in 2002. According to AFP, the families of the displaced were paid as much as US$4,500 dollars to help them settle in and rebuild homes.  "Within slightly more than one year, working together, we will have managed to close all 65 IDP camps," AFP quoted Social Solidarity Minister Maria Alves as saying earlier this week. According to AFP, the return of the displaced has been delayed by land disputes and fears of violence in their home villages. "This is the culmination of a long process of work done by the government, all the organizations involved and the people since 2007 to find a solution to problems that were a result of the 2006 crisis... This is an important step on the road to development," AFP quoted International Organization for Migration coordinator Brad Mellicker as saying.