BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific - Political Supplied by BBC Worldwide Monitoring

November 27, 2009 Friday

Indonesian official urges government to open border post with East Timor

Text of report by Indonesian newspaper Kompas Cyber Media website (<http://www.kompas.com> www.kompas.com) on 26 November

Residents of Maritaing at the eastern end of Alor Island in Alor District, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), have called on the central government to open the border post at Maritaing Port, the closest point to Atauro Island, East Timor.

[Alor Timur] Sub-district Head Aris W said on 25 November 2009 that his region is waiting for the border post to be opened so that residents could take advantage of trade with East Timor.

[Kompas] observed that the unused Maritaing border post facilities included an immigration office, a customs and excise office, and an international passenger terminal.

Alor District Head Simeon Tapali said that he has already asked the central government to open the post.

Tapali said that the facilities were ready for use but there were no personnel to man them, adding that it is unclear when they would be opened.

He also said that in addition to the Maritaing post, an immigration post was being prepared at Kalabahi [the capital of Alor District].

Source: Kompas Cyber Media website, Jakarta, in Indonesian 26 Nov 09

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