Borderline security means no limits for smugglers

Borderline security means no limits for smugglers

The police announced this week their findings on the alleged
involvement of state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina officials in
the smuggling of crude and refined oil. In border areas, however,
fuel smuggling has been a problem for years. The Jakarta Post's
correspondent Yemris Fointuna visited on Wednesday the Indonesia-
Timor Leste border. He shares his observations in the following
report.

An Indonesian Military officer related his version of fuel
smuggling over the Indonesia-Timor Leste border. He said local
people would carry 10- to 15-liter containers of fuel daily into
the neighboring country.

His account, however, was denied by a local religious figure.
A priest at the Wek Fau parish in Atambua, Belu regency, Father
Mundus Sako, said that security officers posted in border areas
had turned a blind eye as hundreds of tons of fuel in drums was
transported by truck over the border.

"I am not accusing them of working together with the
smugglers. But, I know that illegal transactions have been
carried out in the jungle. I guess the welfare of officers needs
to be improved so that they can perform their duties in a serious
manner without being involved in illegal activities," Mundus
said.

According to Mundus, security in the border areas is lax due
to their rough terrain and limited infrastructure. He said
soldiers had only apprehended people carrying small containers of
fuel who were making just enough money to put food on their
tables. Large-scale traders who smuggle fuel by the truckload
were, however, free to go about their business.

Mundus' remark was in contrast to that of the Indonesian
Border Force Commander Lieut. Col. Yul Aviandi, who said his men
had been able to reduce the rate of fuel smuggling over the past
three months. He denied that the military was involved in fuel
smuggling.

"One of the military's tasks is to protect and secure the
border areas. Previously, more than 2,000 liters of fuel were
smuggled out, but the latest evaluation indicates that only 150
liters of fuel were confiscated from smugglers in August, many of
whom probably traveled via unmarked paths in the jungle," said
Aviandi.

There are 55 military and police posts, and seven Belu 1605
Military Command posts along the 280-kilometer borderline. The
number of posts is more than enough to oversee border activities,
with each post manned by 15 to 20 soldiers patrolling five to 10
km of the borderline.

The problem is more one of lax border security on the part of
Timor Leste as only a few officers from the Timor Leste National
Police patrol the area.

"I guess the TNI should not be the only one blamed for the
problem due to the unequal number of officers guarding and
securing the two countries' border areas. This situation creates
opportunities for smugglers," said Aviandi.

He cited, as an example, the borderline between Motaain and
Nunura, as well as Lakmars and Laktutus, which stretches for more
than 70 km and has 12 TNI posts along it, while there is not a
single Timor Leste post along the borderline.

"If this goes on unabated, it will be impossible to curb
smuggling over the border," said Aviandi.

The narrow paths that are traversed by smugglers were observed
during a trip to the border areas between Motaain in East
Tasifeto district and the TNI post in Silawan, a distance of
about 10 km.

The border was not marked other than with lines of trees,
rivers that had dried up and farm fences.

A vast opening, shaded by banyan trees, which smugglers
frequently use as a place for transactions, is located about four
km from Motaain, in the Silawan forest.

The residents admitted that smuggling was a problem. Several
of them said they had often helped their relatives in Timor Leste
by smuggling kerosene or gasoline in jerricans through jungle
paths.

They smuggle fuel when there are no TNI soldiers in the area.
Their relatives ask them to buy kerosene, which is a lot cheaper
in Atambua compared to the exorbitant price in East Timor of Rp
7,500 per liter," said Antonio, 32, from Silawan village, which
borders with East Timor's district of Maliana.

They use the money to help their families, although they know
it is against the law.

"We don't have land to cultivate. We have been living in a
temporary shelter. The government has not provided us with any
food. So, the only way is to sell kerosene or gasoline to Timor
Leste, despite the risk of being caught by TNI soldiers," he
added.