Native scholar proposes more autonomy for East Timor<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A young native East Timorese scholar proposed
\nyesterday that greater autonomy be granted the former Portuguese
\ncolony given its unique cultural and historical background.<\/p>\n
Joao Mariano Saldanha however stressed that the autonomy could
\nbe given to East Timor without annulling its integration with
\nIndonesia, now in its 18th year.<\/p>\n
\"Autonomy is all right, because it doesn't necessarily imply
\nthe establishment of an independent state,\" Saldanha told
\nreporters yesterday. \"As long as we can refer the issue within
\nthe framework of a unitary state of Indonesia, it is a good
\nsolution.\"<\/p>\n
His call for more autonomy is elaborated in greater detail in
\nhis new book, Ekonomi Politik Pembangunan Timor Timur (The
\nEconomic and Political Development of East Timor), which he
\nformally launched yesterday.<\/p>\n
Autonomy was also the focus of the discussion that reviewed
\nthe book held immediately after its launching at the Centre for
\nStrategic and International Studies (CSIS).<\/p>\n
Saldanha's call came only a few days after a similar request
\nwas made by Australia's Foreign Minister Gareth Evans in
\nCanberra.<\/p>\n
Saldanha, a 31-year-old staunch supporter of East Timor's
\nintegration with Indonesia, said the current strategy taken by
\nJakarta in developing the region's economy was inappropriate and
\nineffective in solving East Timor's problems.<\/p>\n
Crisis<\/p>\n
The current top-down system has created an unemployment
\ncrisis, a multidimensional dependency on the central government
\nand other outside parties, and an unbalanced distribution of the
\nfruits of development, he said.<\/p>\n
Saldanha said he is confident that East Timorese are capable
\nof managing an autonomous government.<\/p>\n
\"Now you can pick from 500 to 1,000 native-born scholars to
\nrun the government,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Participants at the discussion included East Timor's Deputy
\nGovernor Brig. Gen. Haribowo, Chief of the Udayana Military
\nCommand Maj. Gen. Adang Ruchiatna, and Aristides Katoppo of the
\nPustaka Sinar Harapan which published the book. Aristides, who is
\nalso a respected journalist, moderated the seminar.<\/p>\n
Haribowo, who presented a speech on behalf of East Timor
\nGovernor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, admitted that imbalances
\nexist between physical and political development since East
\nTimor's integration with Indonesia in 1976. \"The root of the
\nproblem in East Timor is political,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In line with this, Saldanha pointed out that the East Timor
\ndispute was far from being resolved as far as the international
\ncommunity is concerned despite Indonesia's insistence to the
\ncontrary.<\/p>\n
\"What we need is to bring the Indonesian and Portuguese
\ngovernments, the United Nations and -- to a certain extent -- the
\nEast Timorese, to sit and talk at the same table,\" he said. \"This
\nmight take years, but at least we should start the process.\"<\/p>\n
Saldanha graduated from the School of Economics of Satya
\nWacana Christian University, in Salatiga, Central Java in 1989
\nand obtained his masters degree in international management on a
\nFulbright\/Galbraith scholarship from the American Graduate School
\nof International Studies (Thunderbird) in Arizona, U.S., last
\nyear.<\/p>\n
He is one of the first recipients of a scholarship presented
\nby the East Timor provincial government in collaboration with
\nSatya Wacana.<\/p>\n
Reports<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denied
\nrecent reports from Lisbon suggesting that Indonesia has opened
\ntalks with East Timor separatist leaders in exile such as Ramos
\nHorta.<\/p>\n
\"The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ali Alatas) expressed his
\namazement upon reading the reports because they are unreasonable
\nand appear to be another misinformation drive by anti-Indonesia
\ngroups,\" said a statement from the ministry.<\/p>\n
\"The minister emphasizes that the only official course to
\nsolve the East Timor dispute on the international level is
\nthrough tripartite talks between the foreign ministers of
\nIndonesia and Portugal under the U.N. secretary-general's
\nsupervision. There are no plans to open any additional line of
\ntalks.\" (pwn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/native-scholar-proposes-more-autonomy-for-east-timor-1447893297",
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