Developing East Timor

Developing East Timor

We support the ideas of Joao Mariano de Sousa Saldanha in his
newly launched book entitled Political Economic Development of
East Timor (Ekonomi Politik Pembangunan Timor Timur).

Also suggestions from experts like Dr. Hadi Soesastro of the
Centre for Strategic and International Studies about the need to
broaden the dimension of the solution through a dialog with
Portugal.

Among their ideas is the need for the former Portugal colony
to have a share in the Timor Gap oil and gas mining; to increase
the participation of East Timorese in the development of their
own province and to give more autonomy to the province.

We also share the idea of Governor Abilio Soares that the East
Timorese ethnic be recognized as one of the country's ethnic
groups.

It is important to pay heed to all of these suggestions
judging from the fact that East Timor is the country's youngest
province.

-- Suara Karya, Jakarta