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any Timor Leste citizens remain stranded in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), years after a UN referendum that resulted in Timor Leste’s independence.

Timor Aswa’in Union Congress (Untas) in Kupang revealed that the many residents of both countries had been deprived of their right to welfare.

Untas chairman Eurico Guterres told The Jakarta Post at the closing of the congress on Monday that it had been recommended that the Indonesian government maintain ties with Timor Leste and other countries.

The third Untas, added Eurico, also unanimously elected the chairman and the general secretary of Untas for the 2016-2019 period. Eurico was elected chairman, Florencio Mario Viera general secretary and Filomeno de Jesus Hornay chairman of the consultative board.

“The other positions will be organized within the next 30 days,” said Eurico.

In the future, said Eurico, Untas would fight to resolve the issues faced by former residents of Timor Leste in Indonesia through diplomatic means. Untas will demand the rights through peaceful means and maintain contact with the government to resolve issues.

“If the Indonesian government compels anyone, Untas will certainly take a position. If the government wants to repatriate, it should pay attention to the rights of the concerned people,” said Eurico.

Regarding assets of Indonesian citizens in Timor Leste, added Eurico, Untas would fight through the Indonesian government.

Currently, Eurico said that according to Central Statistics Agency data, 42,000 former East Timorese citizens were living outside NTT, while the number of former East Timorese citizens residing in NTT stood at around 15,600 families.

“So, the total number of former East Timor residents living both in and outside of NTT reaches around 100,000 people. But the data needs to be reverified,” he said.

A former Timor Leste citizen residing in Belu regency on the border with Timor Leste, Patrisius Mau, expressed full support for the efforts made by Untas, which acts as an umbrella for former citizens of East Timor in Timor Leste.

According to him, although Timor Leste became a sovereign state dozens of years ago, it has failed to bring prosperity to its people. “Untas members residing in Timor Leste also support Untas’ stance of rejecting the outcome of the 1999 referendum,” he said.