Kupang, east Nusa Tenggara (Antara Bali) - Kupang military chief Col. Heri Wiranto said border issues between Indonesia and East Timor should be settled by involving traditional and community leaders.
Border disputes such as in Naktuka should be discussed together between the governments of the two countries by involving traditional and religious leaders across the border, Heri cited.
"Our duty is only to keep security and peace along the border handling criminal cases," he said here on Monday.
The military could help by facilitating talks and encouraging immediate settlement, otherwise the impact would be worse in the future, he said.
Unless immediate settlement was reached, the border people would continue to face problem and potential conflicts, he said.
"The conflict is highly potential between the two communities across the borders," he said.
Heri, who were only a few days named as a new district military leader, said he already talked with community leaders in the border area.
He said he was told by local religious leaders that the government could settled any border issues and that they should be involved in the talks.
People across the borders in Timor are dominated by Christians and religious and traditional leaders hold strong influence over the local people.
"This is not a small issue . We are talking about borders between two sovereign countries.
"We must not lose our territory because we fail to settle border issue," he said.
Since 2010, Naktuka has been occupied by 44 families from Oecusse, East Timor, or a year after East Timor declared independence from Indonesia on 30 August 1999.
Heri said currently there are three points in the border still need settlement between the two countries including Naktuka. (WDY)
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015
Border disputes such as in Naktuka should be discussed together between the governments of the two countries by involving traditional and religious leaders across the border, Heri cited.
"Our duty is only to keep security and peace along the border handling criminal cases," he said here on Monday.
The military could help by facilitating talks and encouraging immediate settlement, otherwise the impact would be worse in the future, he said.
Unless immediate settlement was reached, the border people would continue to face problem and potential conflicts, he said.
"The conflict is highly potential between the two communities across the borders," he said.
Heri, who were only a few days named as a new district military leader, said he already talked with community leaders in the border area.
He said he was told by local religious leaders that the government could settled any border issues and that they should be involved in the talks.
People across the borders in Timor are dominated by Christians and religious and traditional leaders hold strong influence over the local people.
"This is not a small issue . We are talking about borders between two sovereign countries.
"We must not lose our territory because we fail to settle border issue," he said.
Since 2010, Naktuka has been occupied by 44 families from Oecusse, East Timor, or a year after East Timor declared independence from Indonesia on 30 August 1999.
Heri said currently there are three points in the border still need settlement between the two countries including Naktuka. (WDY)
Editor : I Gusti Bagus Widyantara
COPYRIGHT © ANTARA News Bali 2015