Intro to cover story<\/p>\n
This coming Wednesday marks the 20th anniversary of East
\nTimor's integration into Indonesia.<\/p>\n
On July 17, 1976, President Soeharto signed into law a
\nlegislation enacted by the House of Representatives a day earlier
\nwhich accepted an East Timorese petition to join the republic.<\/p>\n
The petition itself was signed by tribal leaders representing
\nthe majority of East Timorese in December 1975 at the height of a
\nbloody civil war which erupted in the wake of the hasty
\nwithdrawal of the Portuguese colonial administration.<\/p>\n
In the last 20 years, Indonesia has poured billions of rupiah
\ninto East Timor to build infrastructure which was virtually
\nnonexistent at the time of integration. The money went towards
\nthe construction of roads, schools, hospitals, places of worship
\nand other facilities.<\/p>\n
The government, however, continues to face dissension from
\nEast Timorese within and outside the province. Members of
\nFretilin, an armed group seeking a separate state, continue to
\nwage a sporadic guerrilla battle from their jungle hideout. There
\nis also strong discontent among urban youths, which in recent
\nyears has often translated into riots, sometimes with racial or
\nreligious intonations.<\/p>\n
Then there is also the question of the absence of
\ninternational recognition of the integration. The diplomatic
\nbattle is far from being resolved and it is now being waged
\nthrough the United Nations, which still regards Lisbon as the
\nadministering power.<\/p>\n
In connection with the anniversary, The Jakarta Post presents
\na series of articles on this page and pages 9, 10 and 11.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/intro-to-cover-story-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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