A Naktuta man has been killed, or suspected to have been murdered at the restive Naktuta border area between Timor-Leste and Indonesia (Independente, 11/1/2013). The villagers are pointing their fingers towards villagers on the other side of the border as responsible for the murder. It's the latest in a string of clashes between villagers from both sides of the border.
While at the national level Timor-Leste and Indonesian leaders, both civilian or military, seem to be forging warmer and warmer relationship, tensions continue to mar the livelihood of communities inhabiting villages at their respective side of the borders. The border dispute in in Naktuta area, a remote village of the border has often turned into tense standoff. Naktuta is part of Timor-Leste and is located in the district of Oécusse-Ambeno. Attacks by armed gangs, looting, destruction of properties, and death have been recorded. There are indications of involvement by members of Indonesian military and police posted at the border. At the heart of this dispute are farmlands which villagers on both sides of the divide claim as theirs. But apart from the international border that divides them, both communities actually share everything else including language, culture and customs, and even kinship.
Longuinhos Monteiro, the head of PNTL has attributed responsibility to politicians of both countries who have not managed to resolve the border issue. However, given the extremely friendly relations between the two countries police and military, why has nothing been agreed to at least control or halt the violence attacks? Or has Indonesia lost control over sections of its military and is unable to apply discipline against their soldiers posted at these sensitive areas?
While at the national level Timor-Leste and Indonesian leaders, both civilian or military, seem to be forging warmer and warmer relationship, tensions continue to mar the livelihood of communities inhabiting villages at their respective side of the borders. The border dispute in in Naktuta area, a remote village of the border has often turned into tense standoff. Naktuta is part of Timor-Leste and is located in the district of Oécusse-Ambeno. Attacks by armed gangs, looting, destruction of properties, and death have been recorded. There are indications of involvement by members of Indonesian military and police posted at the border. At the heart of this dispute are farmlands which villagers on both sides of the divide claim as theirs. But apart from the international border that divides them, both communities actually share everything else including language, culture and customs, and even kinship.
Longuinhos Monteiro, the head of PNTL has attributed responsibility to politicians of both countries who have not managed to resolve the border issue. However, given the extremely friendly relations between the two countries police and military, why has nothing been agreed to at least control or halt the violence attacks? Or has Indonesia lost control over sections of its military and is unable to apply discipline against their soldiers posted at these sensitive areas?
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