East Timorese must work harder, Yogie says
East Timorese must work harder, Yogie says
DILI, East Timor (JP): Minister of Home Affairs Moch. Yogie
S.M. prompted East Timorese yesterday to unite and work together
to build a better and prosperous province.
"East Timorese should work harder to catch up with the other
provinces' speed of development," Yogie said while presiding over
the swearing-in ceremony of Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, who has
been reelected East Timor governor.
Yogie pointed to the abundance of natural resources waiting to
be exploited. "Only a small amount of East Timor's natural
resources has been exploited by local people".
Abilio was reelected East Timor governor on Sept. 4, securing
a victory over two other candidates -- Nazario Jose Tilman de
Andrade and Virgilio Maria Dias Marcel.
Abilio, 50, captured 40 votes while Nazario and Virgilio only
obtained three and two votes respectively in the provincial
legislature.
He is the province's fourth governor since East Timor was
integrated as Indonesia 27th province in 1976.
Yogie urged East Timorese to absorb ideas, skills and
technology from other parts of Indonesia and if necessary from
foreign countries.
"Yet, all East Timorese should be saturated with local values
and culture, so that they don't lose their identity in the
future," he said.
He urged the provincial administration to listen to the
people's inputs and complaints.
"People now are politically cleverer and more aware than their
predecessors were 20 or 30 years ago," he said.
Speaking about Abilio's reelection, Yogie expected him to use
his experience in guiding and optimizing the ongoing development
programs in the province.
The minister then mentioned that the province was constantly
in the international spotlight because of issues related to human
rights.
Although he admitted to the existence of some basic human
rights violations, he refuted suggestions that there were no
rights protection in the province.
"We have adequate regulations and a legal system to handle all
human rights violations.
"The negative opinion of Indonesia's human rights record in
the past few years developed because they (foreigners) view East
Timor's problems from a different angle than ours," he said.
Similarly, a member of the East Timor provincial legislative
council, Florentino Sarmento, said Abilio must work harder for a
more prosperous East Timor.
"East Timorese, including Abilio, must be willing to evaluate,
revise and make constructive corrections," said Sarmento.
Meanwhile, chief of the Udayana Regional Military Command,
which oversees provinces of Bali, West and East Nusa Tenggara and
East Timor, Maj. Gen. Syahrir M.S. expects Abilio to create a new
atmosphere during his administration.
Syahrir then suggested that the newly installed governor
accommodate all elements in society and draw them into talks in a
bid to obtain a collective agreement of actions for the
betterment of the province and its people.
Responding to Syahrir's suggestion, Abilio said he would
involve local people in talks with the government, churches and
the Armed Forces.
He said he was certain that all problems could be settled
easily if the East Timorese work together for a solution.
"We are supposed to settle our own problems, not outsiders,"
he said after the ceremony. (imn/33)