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reported by Sanjay Sojwal--World Vision Asia Pacific Regional Communications Officer
Dili, East Timor--Recently I flew on a UN helicopter from Dili to eastern East Timor. With the exception of Baucau, East Timor's second largest city, most cities, towns and villages have been destroyed by pro-Indonesia forces. The destruction was a systematic scorched earth policy, carried out with military precision. First the towns and cities were burned, then the villages. Once the infrastructure and communications lines were destroyed the villages were set on fire to terrorize the people. I could still see smoke billowing from the villages when we flew over them.
Frightened, hundreds of thousands of East Timorese hid in the mountains. Some, I was told, hid themselves in pits they dug. Many, despite assurances of safety from the military, stay in hiding.
As we flew over five villages I saw only six people, and no vehicles on the road. In the days following my flight, though, thousands of East Timorese have returned to their homes.
Dili is now flooded with thousands of refugees. Tens of thousands more are expected. As security and confidence in the U.N. peacekeeping troops improve, more people will return to East Timor's major cities and towns. There are signs that the worst may be over. Already children have begun hanging around outside the U.N. peacekeeping forces compound, singing and teasing passersby. Others have set up shop along the road to sell unripe tomatoes and greens.
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