Indonesian Military, UNKPF to Launch Joint Security Operations Along E. Timor-Indonesia Border

JAKARTA, January 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Indonesian military (TNI) and the United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNKPF) in East Timor have agreed to launch joint security operations along the border between East Timor and Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara province, a report said.

The agreement was made at a routine meeting on Tuesday between the two sides in East Nusa Tenggara, Antara news agency reported on Wednesday.

"We have agreed that in carrying out the task, we will not be tightly bound by border regulations. However, we must always communicate and coordinate with one another," Lt. Col. Agung Rijdhianto, commander of the Infantry Battalion 131's Task Force, said after the meeting.

At the meeting, the TNI and UNKPF also tried to solve a number of border violations committed by the two sides, Rijdhianto said.

The meeting also discussed how to solve other border problems, such as the emergence of illegal markets in a number of areas near the border.

The border area has been tensioned since August 1999 after East Timorese voted for independence from Indonesia as about 250,000 East Timorese fled to East Nusa Tenggara province to void violence.

At present, the Indonesian government and East Timorese transitional government are negotiating for the return of the refugees. Enditem

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