The Jakarta Post, 12/20/2002 8:40:11 PM
Repatriation of 39 Maluku-born people from Netherlands delayed
AMBON, Maluku (JP): A plan to repatriate a number of Maluku-born people from the
Netherlands to Maluku has run into a hitch due to transportation problems, Jopi Patti,
chairman of the Maluku-based repatriation committee said here on Friday.
Jopi told Antara that the committee, consisting of social workers in the Netherlands
as well as in Maluku, was originally to have accomplished its tasks and been
dissolved late this month. But because of the hitch, the committee agreed at a
meeting in the Netherlands last Nov 17 to remain in existence until March 2003.
"The hitch occurred because many of the would-be repatriates met difficulties in
obtaining shipping facilities for their belongings," Jopi said.
According to him, a total of 39 Maluku-born Indonesians who had een living in the
Netherlands for decades had decided to return to their homeland. "Previously, their
number reached 56 but some of them eventually changed their mind. Two of them
were actually scheduled to arrive here on Saturday (Dec 21)," he added.
He said the Maluku-born refugees wanted to come home mainly for sentimental
reasons, but they would continue to receive the allowances they were entitled to from
the Dutch government, such as pensions.
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