E. Timor enjoys its 20th anniversary

E. Timor enjoys its 20th anniversary

DILI, East Timor (JP): The local residents celebrated their
20th year of integration with Indonesia yesterday while the
provincial government reaffirmed its commitment to greater
development.

The city came alive with colorful banners, tidy streets and
glittering lamps. Students, soldiers, religious leaders and
government officials across the territory observed the historic
day through ceremony.

While leading a ceremony at his office, Governor Abilio Jose
Osorio Soares said that the East Timorese were increasingly aware
of the good intention of local development programs.

"They are prospering every day and are well aware that they
should work hard to catch up with other provinces of Indonesia,"
he said.

The governor, however, regretted Portugal's refusal to observe
Indonesia's integration with the province which was started by a
proclamation of local political parties in Balibo, Bobonaro
regency on Nov. 31, 1975.

Balibo, some 140 kilometers west of Dili, is considered the
birthplace of the "Balibo Declaration" which helped propel East
Timor towards integration on July 17, 1976.

The UN is yet to acknowledge East Timor's integration with
Indonesia. It still considers Portugal as the territory's
legitimate administrator.

In a related development, AFP news agency reported several
demonstrations against the 20th anniversary of East Timor's
integration.

In the Philippines, about a dozen people demonstrated at the
Indonesian embassy. The demonstrators hung banners on the
embassy's wall which said "support the East Timor struggle for
independence". A small group of policemen watched from nearby.

In Sydney, Australia, the agency reported that a group of
about 20 protesters waved placards and shouted slogans in the
northern city of Darwin. (31/28)