| Subject: AN: Infilitration into W Timor not
alarming
INFILTRATION INTO INDON TERRITORY NOT ALARMING, SAYS MILY OFFICER August 10, 2003 10:16pm Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, Aug 8 (ANTARA) - Infiltration of foreigners (East Timorese) into the Indonesian territory through border areas is not yet alarming as their number is still small and they do not conduct spying activities, a local military officer has said. Chief of the East Nusa Tenggara military command Col. Moeswarno Moesanip said here Friday they (East Timorese) infiltrated into Indonesia as the economic condition in East Timor is deteriorating. Certain East Timorese people resort to trespassing on Indonesia's East Nusa Tenggara's territory to buy necessities unavailable in the nascent state, Moesanip said. "They only buy necessities to survive. Meanwhile, if Indonesians infiltrate into East Timor, they may only want to make trade transactions," he said. Moesanip however said the Indonesian Army would not tolerate any infiltrators who wished to commit spying activities in Indonesia or try to create security disturbances in the border areas. "We will stamp out whoever trying to disturb our security and to infiltrate into the country for spying activities," he asserted. Meanwhile, Chief of the Belu district police Adjunct Senior Commissioner Agus Nugroho said he saw the possibility of foreigners infiltrating into Indonesia was big following the transfer of duties and responsibilities from the UN civilian police to the East Timorese police last July. "Such infiltration is possible as a consequence of the transfer of duties and responsibilities from the UN civilian police to the East Timorese police," Nugroho said. He further said that such infiltration might also be caused by the inadequate number of East Timorese police personnel compared to the burden of duties they have to bear along the border areas. In the newly born country, the Australian battalion (AusBatt) is still guarding the border areas along the Bobonaro district, the Korean battalion (KorBatt) in Kovalima district and the Fiji battalion (FiBatt) in Oecusse district. East Timor officially seceded from Indonesia in October, 1999 as a consequence of the pro-independence camp's victory in the UN-organized popular consultation held on August 30, 1999. The former Portuguese colony for 400 years gained full independence on May 20, 2002. The territory integrated with Indonesia in 1976 but the United Nations never recognized the integration process. Back to August menu |