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withdrawn from their village.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)