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ome 1,800 families who fled East Timor and claimed refugee status in Makassar, South Sulawesi, were sent aid payments worth Rp 5 million (US$480) each on Monday.

The money was sent from the Office of Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare using postal money orders from the main Makassar Post Office.

Makassar post office's second in charge, Agus Priyana, said his office had served 1,767 recipients in five regencies and cities, namely the city of Makassar and regencies of Gowa, Takalar, Maros, as well as Pangkajene and Kepulauan.

"We began our disbursement for Makassar today *Monday*. Recipients in Makassar may take their postal money orders directly to post offices, to counters we have prepared," Agus said.

To claim and cash the postal money orders, eligible recipients must show ID issued by the National Committee for Political Victims of East Timor, a residential ID card or driving license and a recommendation letter issued by a local administration declaring that they are refugees from East Timor.

Aid recipients have until the end of September to claim their money, Agus said.

PT Pos Sulawesi chief Maman Suherman said there was a total 4,683 households eligible for aid payments in five provinces across Sulawesi - in South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, North Sulawesi, West Sulawesi and Gorontalo.

"South Sulawesi has the most *eligible aid recipients* with 3,709 households," Maman said.

Maman had appointed 10 post offices to distribute the payments, namely the offices in South Sulawesi's Makassar, Parepare, Palopo, Watampone and Bulukumba; West Sulawesi's Mamuju; Central Sulawesi's Palu; Gorontalo; and North Sulawesi's Manado and Mobagu. Maman's office had begun delivering the money orders to these 10 post offices on Friday.

On Monday, based on The Jakarta Post's observations, only a few recipients had claimed their money at Makassar Post Office. The number, however, was expected to grow on Tuesday, Agus said.

Former East Timorese resident Syarifuddin Talli, 62, said he was grateful for the payment. Talli, who had moved to Makassar in 2000, said he planned to use the money for business capital, and to make ends meet for his family, so he wouldn't need to depend on his children and extended family members.

"Remembering when I first came to Makassar, my family helped me *survive* because we didn't have anything from East Timor," said Talli, who now lives on Jl. Abdullah Daeng Sirua in Makassar.