East Timorese blamed for crop thefts

ATAMBUA, East Nusa Tenggara: People in East Nusa Tenggara have complained about East Timorese citizens who allegedly frequently sneak into the province to steal or burn their crops.

"Maybe it is because the economic condition of people along East Timor's border is quite alarming, so they are forced to steal food stuffs from our farmland," Vincentius B. Loe, a community figure from Belu regency in West Timor, said on Saturday.

He said he received complaints from local people about the thefts of their rice, corn, cassava, banana and other crops by the East Timorese.

NTT border security taskforce commander Col. Joko Setyono confirmed the reports.

The latest incident took place last week when farmers from Lakmas village in West Tasifeto subdistrict, Belu, reported that their crops, such as mangoes, coconuts, candlenuts and corn were burned by East Timorese, he said.

Joko admitted the security taskforce was unable to prevent border crossing from East Timor due to a lack of personnel. --Antara