East Timor celebrates 20th anniversary
DILI, East Timor (JP): East Timor celebrates its 20th year of integration with Indonesia today, but despite great strides in development, it still suffers the occasional outburst of discontent.
Governor Abilio Osorio Soares said here yesterday that discontent stemmed mainly from educated youths who were unable to satisfy their ambitions.
The governor explained that as more and more people finished school they found it increasingly difficult to find a job which could meet their expectations.
When this happens they quickly become disenchanted and develop extreme political tendencies.
"If our kids go to school and don't get a job then they will easily fall into the wrong environment," Soares said.
He said that groups were using the disgruntled youths for their own political interests. "People abroad often exploit our young kids as well," he said.
When questioned on new political developments, the governor simply replied: "Life is politics, thus even the steps we take are politics."
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated into Indonesia in 1976 as its 27th province. But the United Nations and European countries still recognize Portugal as East Timor's administrator.
Indonesia has spent substantial funds developing the province, but social, ethnic and religious unrest has persisted.
In September 1995, massive riots erupted in Meliana, Dili and other cities of East Timor in which Moslem and Protestant migrants were targets.
The former Portuguese colony is predominantly Roman Catholic, while Moslems constitute about 87 percent of Indonesia's population of 195 million.
Governor Soares said that complaints about migrants only came from a minority of East Timorese.
"Every human being will clearly feel uncomfortable when someone (new) comes into their area," he said, adding that "even animals will feel like that too."
He said that newcomers to the province should be looked upon as untapped potential that could further help accelerate local development.
"Isn't it better to look at those who come as a potential for us to have a good mix, without it being detrimental to anyone," said Soares who was appointed governor four-years ago.
Earlier yesterday, Soares presented his address for the 1995/96 fiscal year to the provincial legislative council.
He said that East Timor's economic growth had risen from 8.66 percent to 9.53 percent in the past year. And per capita income had risen by 8.5 percent from Rp 700,730 to Rp 760,000.
The number of schools and hospitals in the province has risen quickly. Nearly 91 percent of elementary-school-age children were going to school.
There are 114 junior high schools, 24 high schools, one state- university and several polytechnics in the province.
Eleven hospitals have been built, reducing the ratio of hospitals to people to 1:79,669. There are currently 225 registered doctors.
The speaker of the East Timor provincial legislative council, Antonio Freitas Parada, said that people should not expect development to be instantly perfect.
"It's true that development in the region hasn't been perfect...I think that we have proceeded slowly, maybe it can proceed to an ideal within another generation," he said.
When asked to comment on the various conflicts within East Timorese society, Parada quickly asserted: "There is no conflict here." (28/mds)
Editorial -- Page 4