Military defends territorial work

Military defends territorial work

DILI, East Timor: Local military commander Col. Mahidin Simbolon denied charges that troops' territorial missions have hampered local economic activities.

Simbolon said that local residents still need the troops (on the civic mission) to help them boost economic development in Indonesia's youngest province.

"Accusations that the territorial troops hamper economic development are baseless," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

He recounted a day when a group of East Timorese saw him in his office in Dili to ask him to return the territorial troops withdrawn from their village.

The Armed Forces (ABRI) helps the locals solve their problems, such as unemployment, he added. (pan)