Ideology course for Timorese

Ideology course for Timorese

JAKARTA (JP): The government is now designing a special state
ideology course for East Timor, one different from the
conventional curriculum and a result of the territory's different
historical background.

A team from the BP7, the board which organizes and supervises
Pancasila curricula, visited East Timor last week to gather
information about the territory as part of its plan to design a
tailor-made curriculum for the people of East Timor, according to
Antara.

R. Soeprapto, the head of the board, stressed that the
Pancasila course as necessary to enhance the sense of nationalism
and unity of the people in Indonesia.

"East Timor has a different historical background and
development," he said in explaining the reason for the different
treatment.

In 1976 the former Portuguese colony joined Indonesia, which
has been independent from the Dutch since 1945.

Soeprapto disclosed that he had discussed the issue with Lt.
Gen. H.B.L. Mantiri, the chief of the Armed Forces general
affairs.

The course will be targeted not only at native East Timorese,
but also migrants from the rest of Indonesia.

"It is necessary to motivate the East Timorese youth to
recognize that they are Indonesians who were born in East Timor
and that they are Indonesian citizens," Soeprapto said.

He said that BP7 was still working on new material for the
course, which is scheduled to begin next year. (sim)