****** Naktuka residents call for increasing numbers of police*Suara Timor Loro Sa’e, July 27, 2010 .- Local residents of Naktuka border have called on the Government to increase numbers of the Timorese Border Police Unit (BPU), so that it could protect them in the border area, as they have many times been intimidated. During a meeting with the state secretary for defense and the F-FDTL chief of staffs , a local resident, Joaquim Ninas , called on the Government to recruit more police officers to increase number of security in the border area. Another resident, Joao Mauno ,who had been many times intimidated by TNI soldiers called on the Government to set up security post in that area, so that they could remain calm.
Furthermore, here is a television report about the episode which is an issue causing growing concern in Darwin's large Timorese community and has not been reported in the Northern Territory.
*Naktuka residents call on F-FDTL soldiers’ deployment* Televizaun Timor-Leste, July 27, 2010 . -Following the recent threat by the Indonesia’s TNI soldiers, Naktuka local residents have called on the Government to deploy the Timorese Defense Force (F-FDTL) soldiers to provide them security in the border. The local residents made the call after meeting with State Secretary for Defense, Julio Thomas Pinto , and the F-FDTL Chief of Staff, Brigadier General Lere Anan Timur, in the area. State Secretary, Pinto said the Government had made policy on the deployment of the F-FDTL in Naktuka border, yet would take a longer time, as it would be discussed at the Council of Ministers’ meeting. Pinto stressed that the deployment of the defense soldiers would be in Oe-Cusse, not in Naktuka. Pinto called on Indonesia’s TNI soldiers not to make trouble in the border, as the border demarcation issue ought to be resolved amicably. F-FDTL’s Lere also called on the Nakatuka local residents to keep building good relationships with the local residents of the neighbouring country, because the border issue was the resonsibility of the two country’s governments to resolve.
Another report which highlights the seriousness of the situation is as follows :
*Nakatuka case, Horta blames Govt and condemns TNI* Diario Nacional, July 27, 2010 . President Jose Ramos Horta has blamed the Timorese Government, mainly the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Ministry of Agriculture, as they constructed infrastructure in the area which is still under dispute. Horta said the Timorese Government had made fault, yet Indonesia’s TNI soldiers should not use force in the border. “If there is any problem we can talk to each other, the armed force should not enter the country, no reason for this. Although Timor- Leste is guilty, as any ministry does not coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, yet is not reasonable the TNI uses force to destroy these houses. This should be about state relations, diplomacy ,not doing this,” Horta said. Horta also condemned the TNI soldiers that had used force to destroy social houses constructed [recently made the Government] in Naktuka area. Meanwhile, State Secretary for Defense, Julio Thomas, has called on the Indonesia authorities to investigate the TNI soldiers who had created a problem in the border.
