Also: BATEK ISLAND BELONGS TO INDONESIA, MILY OFFICER SAYS

E NUSATENGGARA MILY COMMANDER ON FIXING RI-E TIMOR BORDERLINE

December 28, 2003 11:29pm Antara

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, Dec 24 (ANTARA) - Commander of the Wirasakti Military Command Col M Moesanip said on Wednesday it would be better for the people living near the borderline between East Nusa Tenggara and East Timor to determine their own borderline.

"Let them decide on their own as they adhere to the same customs although they live in different countries," he said commenting on the crucial issue of borderlines.

He said East Timorese living in Oecusse, the East Timorese enclave located between Timor Tengah Utara and Belu districts in East Nusa Tenggara, and Indonesians across the border were already doing it.

"They know more about borderlines," he added.

Although East Timor had separated from Indonesia, the people of Oecusse fell more Indonesian than East Timorese, he said.

East Timor seceded from Indonesia after a UN-organised people's ballot in August 1999 showed a majority of the East Timorese people to be in favour of independence.

(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)

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BATEK ISLAND BELONGS TO INDONESIA, MILY OFFICER SAYS

December 28, 2003 11:26pm Antara

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, Dec 23 (ANTARA) - Batek Island which is situated on the border between East Nusa Tenggara province and East Timor, is part of Indonesian territory, a military officer said here Tuesday.

The Kupang district government had built four houses for the workers of a lighthouse on the island, chief of the 161/Wirasakti district military command Col M.Moesanip said.

He made the statement in response to a report that an East Timorese team had ever conducted a survey on the island, situated in North Amfoang subdistrict, Kupang district which borders on the East Timorese enclave of Oecussi.

According to Moesanip, Batek Island could not be claimed by any other country because it was part of Indonesian territory.

On December 13, the Indonesian Navy's Eastern Fleet had even conducted a military exercise on the island. This activity showed that it belonged to Indonesia, he said, adding the military exercise was not meant as a show of force.

Moesanip further said business tycoon Tommy Winata had once evinced interest in investing in the island to develop its fisheries and tourism sectors but until today no further news was received on Tommy's interest.

To show that the island was part of Indonesian territory, East Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A.Tallo and Moesanip had visited it and built houses and cottages there.

East Timor is a former Indonesian province which seceded from the republic in October 1999 as a consequence of the pro-independence camp's victory in a UN-organised plebiscite in August 1999.

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