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)