Facilitate Interaction With Timor Leste, Regent Of Belu NTT Asks Menkum HAM To Expand Cross-Border Pass Policy

Belu Regent, Agustinus Taolin, while giving a statement to reporters (Photo: ANTARA)

NTT - The Regent of Belu in NTT, Agustinus Taolin asked the Ministry of Law and Human Rights to expand the policy of issuing cross-border passes for Indonesian citizens at national borders. This is to facilitate their interaction with residents in Timor Leste.

"This Cross-Border Pass is very helpful for people at the border because it makes it easier for them to interact with residents in our neighboring country Timor Leste, but so far it is only valid for one village, namely in Silawan," he said, at the Motaain State Cross-Border Post, Belu Regency, quoted from Antara. , Thursday, July 29.

In a virtual discussion with the Minister of Law and Human Rights, Yasonna Laoly, Agustinus said, there are very strong cultural and family ties between residents in Belu Regency and Timor Leste. They both use the Tetum language.

Belu Regency is a regency that directly borders on land with Timor Leste and several state border guard posts are very easy to reach from Atambua, the capital city of Belu Regency.

Among the border guard posts is the Salore Post, which can be reached in only about 15 minutes by motorbike from the center of Atambua.

Taolin said that currently only residents of Silawan Village are allowed to get a Cross-Border Pass based on the agreement between Indonesia and Timor Leste.

There are still five villages in the state border area in Belu Regency which so far have not had easy access using a cross-border pass.

"Therefore, I ask for assistance from the Minister of Law and Human Rights and his staff so that if possible this policy is expanded so that it can be enjoyed by the people of other villages on the border," he said.

"Thus, when the COVID pandemic subsides and Timor Leste does not impose a total closure again, community interaction will be easier," he said.

He said that with the possession of a cross-border pass document, residents no longer need to apply for a passport with a longer procedure when they want to cross into Timor Leste.