RI understands border closure<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia said yesterday it understood
\nMalaysia's decision to close a dozen border crossing points along
\nthe Sarawak-Kalimantan boundary, but added they should not be
\nclosed indefinitely.<\/p>\n
\"The decision taken by the Malaysian government is their right
\nto maintain security in their territory and can be taken without
\ncoordinating with Jakarta,\" Izhar Ibrahim, the Indonesian foreign
\nministry's director general for political affairs, told Antara.<\/p>\n
On the weekend, Malaysia closed off 12 border posts in the
\nsouth Sarawak which borders two Indonesian provinces.<\/p>\n
The decision was taken to avert a possible spread of reported
\nunrest by several thousand Dayak tribesmen in West Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
The sudden closure stranded several hundred Indonesians
\nworking or traveling to neighboring Sarawak.<\/p>\n
Sunday marks the Moslem Idul Fitri religious holidays in which
\nit is customary for Indonesian Moslems to return to their home
\ntowns. The closure of the border crossing points left many
\nIndonesians in Sarawak wondering whether they would be able to
\nreturn.<\/p>\n
The 12 points closed are: Bario, Batu Lintang, Tebedu, Sungai
\nTujuh, Merapok, Tedungan, Sundar, Serikin, Lundu, Pedawan, Bunan
\nSega and Kampung Sebanji.<\/p>\n
Extra police were deployed at the border posts, to guard
\nagainst any spillover of troubles from the other side of the
\nborder, AFP reported from Kuala Lumpur.<\/p>\n
But police said yesterday the situation at all crossings on
\nthe Malaysian side was calm.<\/p>\n
Foreign ministry sources in Kuala Lumpur said the joint
\nMalaysia-Indonesia border committee had been aware of Malaysia's
\ndecision to discourage Malaysians from crossing into Kalimantan.<\/p>\n
Izhar could not predict when the crossing points would be
\nreopened.<\/p>\n
\"I don't know when they will be reopened because if the
\nsituation is not yet deemed safe, the Malaysian government will
\ncontinue to keep the crossing points closed,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Izhar said Jakarta would like to see the crossing points
\nreopened once the unrest has subsided.<\/p>\n
\"There is no reason for Malaysia to keep the border crossing
\npoints closed if the situation is under control, and Indonesia
\nwould like to see them opened as soon as possible,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Jakarta would convey its objection if the border was closed
\nindefinitely, even when the situation had been returned to order,
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
Speaking on the fate of the Indonesians stranded because of
\nthe closure, Izhar said there were other checkpoints they could
\ngo through. \"The government will always help its citizens who are
\nhaving difficulties abroad,\" he said. (mds)<\/p>",
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