Agence France Presse April 27, 2000

Indonesian army to start mapping border area with East Timor

JAKARTA, April 27

The Indonesian army will this year begin to map the country's border area with East Timor, which for 24 years until October was ruled by Jakarta, according to a report Thursday.

The mapping will be conducted by the army's topography directorat, the section's head Brigadier General Budi Triarso told the Suara Karya daily newspaper.

Triarso said although the map would not include a precise delineation of the border, it would be useful in future negotiations between the two countries to determine their joint boundary.

He said that project would take about nine months to complete and involve some 100 personnel.

Triarso said the project managers would seek permission from the United Nations Transitional Authority in East Timor (UNTAET) to cross into their territory.

"Personnel from the army's topography (department) will have to enter the territory of East Timor and for this, a permit from UNTAET and the people of East Timor are needed," he said.

Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony of East Timor in 1975 and annexed it the following year without the recognition of the United Nations.

The UN held a self-determination ballot in East Timor in August last year in which the population overwhelmingly voted to break away from Indonesia.

The result was followed by widespread violence by anti-independence militias, backed by the Indonesian army.

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