| Subject: Lusa: Indonesian officer
accidentally shot in border incident
Also Antara: INDONESIAN SOLDIER SHOT IN NTT - E
TIMOR BORDER AREA
East Timor: Indonesian officer accidentally shot in border incident
Dili, April 21 (Lusa) - An Indonesian security officer was accidentally
wounded by East Timorese police Thursday when border patrols from both
countries were attempting to arrest smugglers near Timor's frontier with
West Timor.
The incident occurred Thursday morning when the Timorese border police
and an Indonesian military patrol chased the group of presumed smugglers
on the road from Maliana to Balibo, about 70 km west of Dili.
An Indonesian lieutenant was inadvertently shot in the leg during the
joint pursuit by the Timorese patrol, who did not immediately admit their
negligence to the Indonesian authorities.
Consequently, to defuse tension between forces either side of the
border separating Timor Island, the United Nations` Dili envoy, Sukehiro
Hasegawa has called a meeting Friday between Indonesian and Timorese
commanders, as well as UN military observers.
The borer zone where the accidental shooting occurred is frequently
used for the smuggling of fuel, tobacco, drinks and particularly
sandalwood.
EL/CJB.
Lusa
---
INDONESIAN SOLDIER SHOT IN NTT - E TIMOR BORDER AREA
April 22, 2005 9:59pm Antara
Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), April 22 (ANTARA) - First Lieutenant
Tedy Setyawan, commander of the military border post in Makir, Belu
district, East Nusa Tenggara province, which shares the border with
Bobonaru district of East Timor was shot in Malibaca.
"On Thursday, at about 08:45 local time, eight Indonesian soldiers
of the artillery battalion 8 tasked to maintain border security
particularly in the area along the Malibaca river in NTT, spotted nine
East Timorese border crossers during their patrol," border task force
commander Lt Col Art Yul Aviandi said here on Friday.
When the border crossers were entering Indonesian territory, they
brought nothing. But 20 minutes later, they showed up carrying some
jerrycans of kerosene.
At that time, when the soldiers tried to stop them, a woman among them
cried. Three of them then brandished their machetes against the soldiers,
while the others to threw rocks at the soldiers.
At the same time, shots were heard coming from East Timor and hit the
thigh of First Lietnant Tedy Setyawan," he said.
On Thursday evening, the victim was evacuated to Kupang and according
to a plan, he would be flown to Jakarta for more intensive medical
treatment.
Because of this incident, East Nusa Tenggara government asked the
border task force commander to meet East Timor's Prime Minister Mari Al
Katiri and some officials to come to the border area, but the request was
rejected.
"We have to postpone the meeting with East Timorese officials, as
our side will inspect the area along Malibaca river. Then, we will be
ready for a meeting with them (East Timorese officials)," Yull
Malibaca said.
With this incident, Yul said the men under his command will tighten
security along the border and will take firmer action against illegal
border crossers.
(THROUGH ASIA PULSE)
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