Most E. Timorese live in poverty

DILI, East Timor: About 70 percent of the 892,000 East Timorese residents still live below the poverty line, a local official said yesterday.

"Those in absolute poverty live in isolated villages. In towns, fewer people live in absolute poverty," said Soebarjo, chief of the local office of the bureau of economic and trade statistics.

He warned that the high population growth rate would bring serious socio-economic consequences unless it is accompanied by rapid economic growth, Antara reported.

According to official statistics, the East Timorese population grew by 1.81 percent last year, while the economy grew by 10.07 percent.

"If population growth can be decreased and the economy grows by more than 10 percent, the people's income per capita can increase to Rp 629,000 (US$280) a year," he said.

He added that the economy in the former Portuguese colony depends heavily on agriculture, which is the source of livelihood for most residents. (pan)