TTU Regency Government Believes Timor Leste Violated Agreement Regarding Border Markers

KUPANG - The North Central Timor (TTU) Regency Government, East Nusa Tenggara, believes that Timor Leste has violated an agreement not to install markers in disputed areas.

This incident sparked tensions, leading to a warning shot being fired at an Indonesian citizen at Mark 36 in Inbate Village, on the border of Oecusse District, Timor Leste.

TTU Regent Yoseph Falentinus Delasalle Kebo stated that on Sunday, August 24, Timor Leste requested permission from Inbate residents to install the border markers.

"Our residents have requested that the markers not be installed at Mark 36, which still has the status quo," he said when contacted by Antara from Kupang on Tuesday, August 26.

The 12.56 hectares of land surrounding Mark 36 remain in dispute, and no official agreement has been reached between the Indonesian and Timor Leste governments.

However, according to Yoseph, the residents' requests were ignored by the Timor-Leste Border Police (UPF), who began erecting stakes at the site on Monday.

"We are actually still awaiting instructions from the central government regarding the 36-mark dispute. Residents have also been asked to refrain from activities on the land," he said.

Yoseph explained that the unilateral stake-setting action sparked anger among Inbate residents and led to attacks on residents near the border. UPF officers then fired warning shots to disperse the crowd.

He hopes this issue will not drag on and will be resolved quickly by the governments of both countries.

"We have asked residents to exercise restraint to prevent the clashes from escalating," he added.