"They are separated only by state administration and politics."Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - The number of people crossing the border between the Indonesian part of the Timor island of Atambua and Timor Leste rose sharply ahead and after Christmas on Dec 25.
There are 600 people crossing the border per day at Mota`ain in the sub-district of Tasifeto Timur, Belu district, East Nusa Tenggara from normally 200, commander of the Immigration Post at Mota`ain Ino Siki said on Monday
The number of people crossing the border has increased since Monday, Dec 19, and it is expected to continue to grow until the first week of January, 2013, Ino Siki said.
Every year many people from the both sides of the border crossed to the other side to visit relatives, he said.
Indonesian citizens especially those in the frontier areas of Belu district and East Timorese cross the borders share the same culture and many of them are relatives.
"They are separated only by state administration and politics," he said.
He said there are also other people including tourists from other countries crossing the border.
Control, therefore, is tight by the immigration office to prevent illegal border crossing, he said.
Earlier police said drug traffickers have entered the country via Timor Leste.
(Uu.AS/H-ASG/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
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