East Timorese blamed for crop thefts

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