East Timorese arrive home

More than 120,000 refugees remain in West Timor

More than 400 refugees have returned to East Timor after leaving squalid camps in Indonesian-controlled West Timor where they have been living for more than a year.

UN forces are trying to stop militia raids from West Timor

It is the first major refugee repatriation since foreign aid workers pulled out of West Timor in September after the murder of three United Nations officials by militias based in the camps.

It is also the first time that former recruits of the Indonesian military have volunteered to return home.

More than 100,000 refugees still remain in West Timor after leaving their homes in September last year because of the violence surrounding East Timor's vote for independence.

However, the UN and other international aid agencies believe Wednesday's repatriation operation could mark a turning point.

Fears

Former members of the Indonesian armed forces had previously been unwilling to leave West Timor, partly because of concern for their security back home.

Although only low-ranking local recruits, they feared their military links would provoke reprisals.

The UN hopes their return will encourage the remaining former soldiers and their relatives - estimated at up to 30,000 - to head home as well.

Police and peacekeeping troops will be extra vigilant in areas to which the refugees are returning.

But the UN believes they will be accepted without any problems.

Pensions

The 60 ex-soldiers, seven former civil servants and their families arrived by boat at East Timor's port of Com after a 22-hour voyage.

The former servicemen had been given their full military pensions before boarding.

Many arrived with an array of household goods, which are much cheaper in West Timor.

Most of the returnees will spend Wednesday night aboard the boat, before travelling to their home villages.

Intimidation

The main obstacle to any mass repatriation operation are the pro-Jakarta militias.

The gangs, backed by elements of the Indonesian military, waged a campaign of terror in East Timor after the territory voted for independence in August 1999.

When international peacekeepers were sent in, they fled to West Timor where they now control the refugee camps, threatening anyone wishing to return home.

International aid workers have been unable to resume work in the camps because of the dangers posed by the gangs.