Kupang – The Indonesian Military (TNI) has deployed 700 troops to the area bordering with Timor Leste where they will stay on guard for the next nine months.

The deployment was officially led by Military Region IX Udayana commander Maj. Gen. Kustanto Widiatmoko at the Kupang Main Naval Base VII, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) on Saturday.

The troops came from the Infantry Battalion (Yonif) 641/Beruang (BRU) Singkawang, West Kalimantan, and the Yonif 321/Galuh Taruna (GT) Majalengka, West Java.

"My message to the troops: do the task well, maintain the nation's honor and make sure that state sovereignty in the East Timor-Indonesia border area is well maintained," Kustanto told reporters.

He said he also told his men to deal with security disturbances along the border area. Although the disturbances were relatively minor, if they happened over and over, they could disturb relations between the two countries.

Kustanto added that the troops previously assigned to the area had been successful in decreasing border violations. Yet, there was still homework to do, he said. "Among the tasks are improving the post and continuously perfecting the mission execution patterns, considering the dynamics of the neighborhood," he said.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/06/27/islands-focus-tni-rotates-troops-border-area.html