TNI on alert, ready to close border with East Timor
KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara (Antara): The Indonesian Military has put its soldiers on alert along border with East Timor following riots incited by deserted soldiers there and ready to close the border, an Indonesian military officer said Wednesday.
"All border posts are on red alert and we will close the border if there is another exodus caused by the riots," said Wirasakti Regional Military Command Col. APJ Noch Bola.
"We do not want the deserters to use our territory as their fighting base."
Bola said if violence escalated in East Timore, there would be another exodus just like what the East Timorese did during the 1975 civil war and after the secession referendum in 1999.
East Timorese Armed Forces commander Brig. Gen. Taur Matan Ruak dismissed about 600 soldiers who went on strike since Feb. 8 complaining poor living conditions and selective promotion.
The deserting soldiers -- more than one third of East Timorese force -- carried along with them their weapons. About half were reportedly run amok in Dili while the rest were being consolidated in East Timorese forests.
"We do not want East Nusa Tenggara province to keep getting humanitarian burden from East Timorese problem. I am sure the East Timorese National Police' border patrol unit will force their people to enter Indonesia," said Bola.
"That's why we are closing our border for East Timorese."
Bola also said there was no need to deploy reinforcement along the border with current three battalions of about 2,200 soldiers guarding the border.
Indonesia annexed East Timor in 1976 after its colonial master, Portugal, pulled out in 1975.
The annexation got tacit approval from Western countries, especially the United States and Australia, fearing a communist domino effect following the American defeat in Vietnam.
During Indonesia's rule, the deserters belonged to Gusmao's left-leaning Fretilin resistance group. (***)
"All border posts are on red alert and we will close the border if there is another exodus caused by the riots," said Wirasakti Regional Military Command Col. APJ Noch Bola.
"We do not want the deserters to use our territory as their fighting base."
Bola said if violence escalated in East Timore, there would be another exodus just like what the East Timorese did during the 1975 civil war and after the secession referendum in 1999.
East Timorese Armed Forces commander Brig. Gen. Taur Matan Ruak dismissed about 600 soldiers who went on strike since Feb. 8 complaining poor living conditions and selective promotion.
The deserting soldiers -- more than one third of East Timorese force -- carried along with them their weapons. About half were reportedly run amok in Dili while the rest were being consolidated in East Timorese forests.
"We do not want East Nusa Tenggara province to keep getting humanitarian burden from East Timorese problem. I am sure the East Timorese National Police' border patrol unit will force their people to enter Indonesia," said Bola.
"That's why we are closing our border for East Timorese."
Bola also said there was no need to deploy reinforcement along the border with current three battalions of about 2,200 soldiers guarding the border.
Indonesia annexed East Timor in 1976 after its colonial master, Portugal, pulled out in 1975.
The annexation got tacit approval from Western countries, especially the United States and Australia, fearing a communist domino effect following the American defeat in Vietnam.
During Indonesia's rule, the deserters belonged to Gusmao's left-leaning Fretilin resistance group. (***)
posted by novski | 4:36 PM
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