Indonesian and East Timorese authorities have begun discussions on the removal of remains of Indonesian soldiers from various cemeteries across East Timor, according to an Indonesian government source cited by Monday's Jakarta Post newspaper.

The same newspaper adds that the military commander of Indonesian West Timor, General Willem da Costa, told the official Indonesian news agency Antara Monday that since being assigned to his post, he "has been thinking about relocating the remains of the heroes".

"Since the integration of East Timor with Indonesia in 1975, over 5,000 Indonesian soldiers have died during the struggle against Communism in East Timor", added da Costa.

The Jakarta Post also quotes the general as saying that Indonesian war graves have been neglected since East Timor's breakaway from Indonesia in 1999.