E. Timor enjoys its 20th anniversary<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The local residents celebrated their
\n20th year of integration with Indonesia yesterday while the
\nprovincial government reaffirmed its commitment to greater
\ndevelopment.<\/p>\n
The city came alive with colorful banners, tidy streets and
\nglittering lamps. Students, soldiers, religious leaders and
\ngovernment officials across the territory observed the historic
\nday through ceremony.<\/p>\n
While leading a ceremony at his office, Governor Abilio Jose
\nOsorio Soares said that the East Timorese were increasingly aware
\nof the good intention of local development programs.<\/p>\n
"They are prospering every day and are well aware that they
\nshould work hard to catch up with other provinces of Indonesia,"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
The governor, however, regretted Portugal's refusal to observe
\nIndonesia's integration with the province which was started by a
\nproclamation of local political parties in Balibo, Bobonaro
\nregency on Nov. 31, 1975.<\/p>\n
Balibo, some 140 kilometers west of Dili, is considered the
\nbirthplace of the "Balibo Declaration" which helped propel East
\nTimor towards integration on July 17, 1976.<\/p>\n
The UN is yet to acknowledge East Timor's integration with
\nIndonesia. It still considers Portugal as the territory's
\nlegitimate administrator.<\/p>\n
In a related development, AFP news agency reported several
\ndemonstrations against the 20th anniversary of East Timor's
\nintegration.<\/p>\n
In the Philippines, about a dozen people demonstrated at the
\nIndonesian embassy. The demonstrators hung banners on the
\nembassy's wall which said "support the East Timor struggle for
\nindependence". A small group of policemen watched from nearby.<\/p>\n
In Sydney, Australia, the agency reported that a group of
\nabout 20 protesters waved placards and shouted slogans in the
\nnorthern city of Darwin. (31\/28)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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