There are calls for the National Police of Timor-Leste to set up Maritime Police Unit (UPM) posts in order to control people illegally entering Timor-Leste and stealing resources.
“We need to set up the posts and provide training to fishermen so that they can fish and control our sea,” said MP Antoninho Bianco at the National Parliament.
He said Indonesian fishermen were able to evade detection as maritime police boat patrols were unable to sail to the south coast of Timor.
“So, it is easy for Indonesian fishermen to get in,” he said.
He said the current systems of control were inefficient and meant that Indonesian fishermen could easily enter illegally and steal Timor’s rich ocean resources.
“Their boats are high-tech and it’s hard for us to catch them,” he said.
In response to the concerns raised, the General Commander of National Police Timor-Leste (PNTL), Julio Hornai said the PNTL had had to delay 8 UTM posts as no.
“We would like to establish 8 or 9 maritime posts, including 4 posts on the frontier, but there is no budget,” said Hornai.
However, he said the PNTL would present its plan again in early July in the hopes of being able to use the ratification budget for establishing the posts.
Fifteen boats in the patrol fleet are currently unseaworthy as they are awaiting repairs.
While PNTL allocated funding in its 2015 budget for maintenance costs, Hornai said the company that won the tender had resigned before the project was completed.
He said the PNTL was now seeking interest from other eligible companies to take over the project.
