Outer islands in Maluku prone to smuggling and poaching

M. Azis Tunny , The Jakarta Post , Ambon | Tue, 03/04/2008 11:12 AM | The Archipelago

Outer islands in the Maluku Tenggara Barat and Aru Islands regencies in Maluku province are especially prone to smuggling, poaching and illegal immigration, says a military commander.

He was referring to some 18 islands -- comprising Maluku Tenggara Barat's 10 outer islands plus the Aru Islands -- lying on Indonesia's borders with Australia and Timor Leste.

"The outer (Aru) islands act as bases for illegal fishing ... and somtimes fuel smuggling," commander of the Binaya Military Command, Col. Pratinum, told The Jakarta Post at the Maluku governor's office on Monday.

He said Maluku Tenggara Barat was regarded as a likely place to find border trespassers and undocumented immigrants "due to its proximity with Timor Leste".

He said the regency's outer islands could find themselves at the center of a refugee problem in the future, given political instability in the neighboring country.

"We need to tighten security there given the lack of immigration posts."

According to Pratinum, illegal immigration was made more likely by traditional ties between Maluku Tenggara Barat and Timor Leste.

Residents living along the borders, especially on Wetar Island, generally seek medical treatment in Dili, Timor Leste, instead of in Saumlaki, the capital of Maluku Tenggara Barat. People from both countries often trade with each other, too.

"Pulau Wetar islanders prefer to go to Dili because it takes only two hours to get there by boat while it takes several days to get to Saumlaki," Maluku Tenggara Barat Health Office head Juliana Carolus said recently.

Pratinum said the Pattimura provincial military command had set up eight security posts in border areas of the two regencies to prevent "foreign infiltration".

Located on smaller islands like Kisar, Moa, Lakor, Lirang and Wetar, each post is manned by a single platoon.

Pratinum said security forces often encountered foreigners in the outlying parts of the two regencies claiming to be doing research but unwilling to disclose their origins.

He said soldiers posted in this far corner of the country often complained of boredom and loneliness and that building roads and towns would help keep them busy.