Kupang – The United Nations Peacekeeping Force (UNPKF) in East Timor aired its pessimism over the security conditions there following the withdrawal of the UN mission scheduled for May 20, an Indonesian Military officer said on Wednesday.

"UNPKF is pessimistic after assessing reports on security in East Timor," said Col. Moeswardi Moesanip of the Wirasakti Military Command. "There are also rumors being circulated that there are security problems along the border line," he added.

Moesanip was attending an intern command meeting (ICM) between the Indonesian Military (TNI) and UNPKF, in Denpasar, Bali.

Present at the meeting were Udayana Military Commander Maj. Gen. Supiadin AS, UNPKF chief Lt. Gen. Khairuddin Mat Yosuf, Brig. Gen. Bras Marcos of the United Nations Military Observers (UNMO) and East Timor Defense Force (FDTL) chief Brig. Gen. Taur Matan Ruak.

The Udayana Military Command oversees the provinces of Bali, East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara while the Wirasakti Regional Military Command is in charge of East Nusa Tenggara province, which share borders with East Timor.

However, Moesanip said, TNI and UNPKF had agreed not to act on any rumors as this would only add to problems on the border.

"TNI also expected UNPKF to be able to manage the situation in East Timor to prevent any turmoil after the withdrawal," he said. "We emphasized that any problem in East Timor would also burden Indonesia."

East Timorese refugees flocked to Indonesia soon after the civil war broke out following Portugal's exit in 1975, and during the riots following the UN-sanctioned referendum in 1999.