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)