Canberra – More than 100,000 refugees in West Timor were trapped in makeshift camps and living in a state of constant fear under the rule of the militia groups that destroyed East Timor, an Amnesty International report said today.

The report was based on information collected by an Amnesty International team that returned recently from the region. It found many refugees were unable to return to East Timor, where the Australian-led Interfet troops had helped restore security following post-independence poll violence.

"Refugees in West Timor remain virtual prisoners in some camps," it said. "Their lives are still ruled by the militia groups that destroyed East Timor." "The Indonesian government's failure to completely disband and disarm the militias operating in the camps continues to undermine the prospects for the safe and voluntary repatriation of the remaining refugees in West Timor. " The report found the refugees lived in a state of constant fear and were often intimidated, harassed, extorted and in some cases sexually assaulted and killed.

Many were being discouraged from returning to East Timor by false stories of famine and women being raped by Interfet troops. "Given the general climate of fear, degradation and misinformation, it is no wonder that the flow of refugees across the border between West and East Timor has slowed down to a trickle in the last few weeks," the report said.

Humanitarian conditions in the camps were also deteriorating as the wet season set in, the report said. Poor shelter and sanitation had resulted in the spread of diseases such as chronic diarrhoea and tuberculosis.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees said 32 children and three adults had died in the Tua Pukan camp between November 22 and December 1. The report urged the international community to step up pressure on Indonesia to disband and disarm the militias.