Manpower problem in East Timor

Manpower problem in East Timor

DILI, East Timor: Commander of the East Timor Military district Col. Kiki Syahnakri said yesterday that the poor quality of manpower is the main social problem in the region.

"We must pay a serious attention to this problem," Kiki was quoted by Antara as saying when responding to a question from visiting Deputy Secretary of the Norwegian Embassy, Niels Didrich Buch.

Kiki said that the presence of the Armed Forces in the province was needed to improve the quality of the local human resources. Its presence is not only upon the request of the Ministry of Defense and Security but also the request of the local government, he added.

"We currently operate seven Armed Forces battalions in East Timor. One is a combat battalion and the others are territorial battalions," he said.(imn)