PM urges ETimor residents to return home

Radio New Zealand
Posted at 10:20am on 08 Nov 2006

East Timor Prime Minister Jose Ramos-Horta warned on Tuesday that people in temporary shelters must return to their homes before November 15 or risk having food and water rations cut by the government.

Ramos-Horta said he saw no reasons for the tens of thousands of people to continue remaining in camps for internally displaced people, as the government was currently boosting security around the capital Dili.

The United Nations agreed last month to send more than 1,600 international police to fully restore stability.

At least 60,000 East Timorese remain in camps in Dili, saying they are too afraid to return home. Up to 70,000 are estimated to be sheltering in camps in other districts since trouble hit Dili in May.

.