Timor Leste govt urged to issue border-crossing passes

"We ask the Indonesian government to continue urging Timor Leste to issue border-crossing passes so that none of its citizens needs to become an illegal border-crosser," Lopez said.

He said Timor Leste citizens living in border areas such as Balibo in Bobonaro district or Salele in Kovalima district always preferred to cross the border with Indonesia to reach Belu district rather than go anywhere else when they needed to buy daily necessaries.

Yet by crossing the border illegally, they risked being arrested by Indonesian police or military border guards.

The Indonesian government was aware of the Timor Leste`s need and had therefore provided for the opening of traditional markets at certain points on the border such as at Mota`ain, Turiskain and Motamasin in Belu district.