Kupang – East Timorese refugees sheltering in a number of camps in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province will celebrate in a modest way Indonesia's 57th independence day on August 17.

Speaking to newsmen here on Tuesday, spokesman for the Presidium of East Timorese Refugees, Hukman Reni, called on fellow refugees to make the independence celebration an occasion to strengthen their resolve to be part of the Indonesian nation.

He said that the East Timorese refugees who were loyal to Indonesia's red-and-white flag should take their present status as a lesson.

According to Hukman, the East Timorese had undertaken three tests to prove themselves to be red-and-white fighters. They took the first test in 1975 when a revolt broke out in East Timor and many local people expressed their determination to integrate with Indonesia.

The second was in 1999 when the East Timorese voted in a United Nations-administered ballot which later led to the territory's breakaway from the republic.

The third test was shown during the registration of East Timorese refugees in 2000 when most of them opted to stay in Indonesia, he said as quoted by Antara.