Indonesia urges UNTAET to form E. Timor joint border committee

Indonesia urges UNTAET to form E. Timor joint border committee

JAKARTA (JP): Indonesia is urging the United Nations
Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) to sign an
agreement on the formation of a joint border committee as part of
measures to ease disruptive activities along the East Timor
border.

Coordinating Minister for Political, Social and Security
Affairs Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that with a joint committee
the two sides could conduct surveillance on all kinds of
incidents in the border area.

"The presence of a joint committee, can ensure that fair
measures will be taken against Indonesia as it has been too often
that we have been blamed for supporting all kinds of incidents
happening on the border," Susilo said after a meeting with UNTAET
chief Sergio Vieiera de Mello on Friday.

"It has become very unfair if every time we have to take the
blame...The committee will have the authority to make
investigations and conduct surveillance each time an incident
occurs," Susilo added.

The Joint Border Committee will be authorized to set rules on
movements along the border between East Timor and West Timor
including on security conditions and administration procedures
for those who want to cross the border.

The Committee can also be authorized to determine the
demarcation line between the two areas.

Earlier on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Director
General for Political Affairs Hassan Wirajuda said Indonesia has
become very forthcoming in solving the border issue and even
delivered the draft to UNTAET.

"However, UNTAET refused to sign the draft on the grounds that
they have to discuss it among themselves on Sept. 7 and maybe
after Sept. 10 they will be ready to have further talks about
it," Hassan told journalists.

Susilo said after Friday's meeting, UNTAET has agreed to sign
the draft, but did not mention the exact time of the signing.

However according to Susilo, during the meeting de Mello again
alleged that intensified activities on the border in the past
month was supported, trained and involved the Indonesian Military
(TNI).

"But, from the facts we have on the field according to the
Udayana Regional Commander Maj. Gen. Kiki Syahnakri, the
allegations are baseless. There is no military training for the
militias," Susilo said.

"There is no TNI backing for militias, but it is a very long
border so it is possible that one or two militias are able to
infiltrate to the other side," Susilo added.(dja)