East Timorese refugees told to use official borders

KUTA, Bali (JP): Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Willem T. da Costa said on Tuesday that all East Timorese refugees living in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) must use official borders to travel in and out of the two territories.

"The refugees must no longer use traditional passageways to cross the border of NTT and East Timor.

"They have to go through the official border posts and be given a certain pass which will guarantee their safety, too," Willem told the media on the sidelines of a meeting on the joint border with officials of the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) on Tuesday.

There are at least six official border posts along the NTT and East Timor and it should be enough to cover the commuters' need, he said.

"Crossing borders along traditional routes can be very dangerous and prone to incidents that trigger disputes between UN peacekeeping troops and the Indonesian Military (TNI)/Police officers," the general said.

"We don't make it difficult for people to cross the border as long as they have complete documents. What have they got to hide anyway? Our problem, however, is the fact that many East Timorese who arrive at NTT don't carry a single document," he added.

Most residents in both territories are frequently commuting to see their relatives.

The joint border committee discussed on Tuesday certain boundaries and paths for distribution and supplies of food and goods, as well as traditional markets operating at the border area.

In a recent case which took place on Jan. 20, a TNI soldier named First Sgt. Fransesco Lasko Dos Santos was arrested by the peacekeeping force at the border of NTT and East Timor for alleged illegal trespassing.

"For the Dos Santos case, we hope that there will be some mitigating circumstances with regard to the fact that he brought with him complete documents when passing the border and didn't carry any guns.

"He just wanted to meet his family," the general said. (zen/edt)