East Timor needs greater autonomy

East Timor needs greater autonomy

DILI, East Timor: Regencies in the province need greater autonomy to develop their initiatives and reduce dependence on the central bureaucracy, a regent said yesterday.

Dili Regent Domingos M.D. Soares said he defined autonomy as greater authority to develop his region. He does not perceive of it as total independence as some have feared.

He said greater autonomy would challenge regency administrations to implement their development programs responsibly and make the central government's encouragement of bottom up planning a reality.

"With greater autonomy, regency administrations will not issue policies which are not in line with those of the central government," he was quoted by Antara. (pan)