Unfortunate East Timor<\/p>\n
There has been little good news from East Timor since its
\nindependence on May 20, 2002.<\/p>\n
The bloody incident on Saturday, Jan. 4, has obviously shocked
\nmany people. A group of people garbed in balaclavas attacked
\nresidential areas in the district of Atsabe, killing three locals
\nand injuring some others.<\/p>\n
The bloody attacks are particularly sensitive as the
\nassailants were allegedly former militiamen who had supported
\nEast Timor's integration with Indonesia. Indeed, East Timor's
\npresidential palace Chief of Staff Agio Pereira tended to confirm
\nthat the assailants were former pro-Jakarta militiamen. Minister
\nof Foreign Affairs Jose Ramos-Horta had earlier stated that
\nformer pro-Jakarta militiamen were involved in the Dec. 4, 2002,
\nriots in Dili. Two people were killed in the clashes.<\/p>\n
However, no one has been able to explain whether the attacks
\nwere "officially" ordered, or were carried out by individuals
\nacting on their own initiative.<\/p>\n
Anyway, these attacks are very serious and need to be dealt
\nwith promptly and properly.<\/p>\n
Since its independence, East Timor has been facing very
\nserious economic problems. The prices of goods and staple foods
\nhave been soaring while purchasing power has been declining. The
\nyouth unemployment rate stands at 80 percent. The frustrations
\nfelt by the pro-integration group have manifested themselves
\nthrough attacks on independence supporters. Economically, the
\ntiny country, with a population of only 700,000, is still very
\nweak.<\/p>\n
However, it is impossible for the East Timorese people to turn
\nback the clock. They have made their choice - after 450 years of
\nbeing colonized by Portugal and twenty-four years of integration
\nwith Indonesia - to become an independent nation.<\/p>\n
The development and the future of the country depends on
\naccountability and cooperation between its government and
\ncitizens.<\/p>\n
The East Timor government and citizens should have been aware
\nthat there are limits on the amount of foreign aid that will be
\nforthcoming.<\/p>\n
-- Kompas, Jakarta<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/unfortunate-east-timor-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }