Report warns of threat to stability

BRUSSELS, April 1 (UPI) -- Stability in Timor-Leste could be threatened if a solution isn't found for the country's displaced people, according to a new International Crisis group report.

The report, "Timor-Leste's Displacement Crisis," analyzes the threats to security in Timor-Leste as a result of an unresolved crisis posed by the estimated 100,000 people who remain displaced in the country. It warns of continued violence like the recent rebel attack on Timor-Leste President Jose Ramos-Horta if the situation is not resolved, the International Crisis Group reported.

Officials say a surge in political and sectarian violence in 2006 forced thousands of people to flee their homes. The report calls on government officials to fully fund and implement the national recovery strategy or face continued unrest in the internally displace persons' camps.

"The IDP camps in Dili (Timor-Leste) are not just a humanitarian disaster zone, but also a visible reminder of the failure of the government and international forces to create a secure environment," John Virgoe, Crisis Group South East Asia project director, said in a statement. "Resolving the displacement crisis is essential if Timor is to move beyond the 2006 conflict."

Important issues remain unresolved according to the report, including rebuilding plans for destroyed properties and ongoing ownership disputes. Officials say the recovery strategy must also bring arsonist and violators of human rights to justice.