Native scholar proposes more autonomy for East Timor
Native scholar proposes more autonomy for East Timor
JAKARTA (JP): A young native East Timorese scholar proposed
yesterday that greater autonomy be granted the former Portuguese
colony given its unique cultural and historical background.
Joao Mariano Saldanha however stressed that the autonomy could
be given to East Timor without annulling its integration with
Indonesia, now in its 18th year.
"Autonomy is all right, because it doesn't necessarily imply
the establishment of an independent state," Saldanha told
reporters yesterday. "As long as we can refer the issue within
the framework of a unitary state of Indonesia, it is a good
solution."
His call for more autonomy is elaborated in greater detail in
his new book, Ekonomi Politik Pembangunan Timor Timur (The
Economic and Political Development of East Timor), which he
formally launched yesterday.
Autonomy was also the focus of the discussion that reviewed
the book held immediately after its launching at the Centre for
Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Saldanha's call came only a few days after a similar request
was made by Australia's Foreign Minister Gareth Evans in
Canberra.
Saldanha, a 31-year-old staunch supporter of East Timor's
integration with Indonesia, said the current strategy taken by
Jakarta in developing the region's economy was inappropriate and
ineffective in solving East Timor's problems.
Crisis
The current top-down system has created an unemployment
crisis, a multidimensional dependency on the central government
and other outside parties, and an unbalanced distribution of the
fruits of development, he said.
Saldanha said he is confident that East Timorese are capable
of managing an autonomous government.
"Now you can pick from 500 to 1,000 native-born scholars to
run the government," he said.
Participants at the discussion included East Timor's Deputy
Governor Brig. Gen. Haribowo, Chief of the Udayana Military
Command Maj. Gen. Adang Ruchiatna, and Aristides Katoppo of the
Pustaka Sinar Harapan which published the book. Aristides, who is
also a respected journalist, moderated the seminar.
Haribowo, who presented a speech on behalf of East Timor
Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares, admitted that imbalances
exist between physical and political development since East
Timor's integration with Indonesia in 1976. "The root of the
problem in East Timor is political," he said.
In line with this, Saldanha pointed out that the East Timor
dispute was far from being resolved as far as the international
community is concerned despite Indonesia's insistence to the
contrary.
"What we need is to bring the Indonesian and Portuguese
governments, the United Nations and -- to a certain extent -- the
East Timorese, to sit and talk at the same table," he said. "This
might take years, but at least we should start the process."
Saldanha graduated from the School of Economics of Satya
Wacana Christian University, in Salatiga, Central Java in 1989
and obtained his masters degree in international management on a
Fulbright/Galbraith scholarship from the American Graduate School
of International Studies (Thunderbird) in Arizona, U.S., last
year.
He is one of the first recipients of a scholarship presented
by the East Timor provincial government in collaboration with
Satya Wacana.
Reports
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denied
recent reports from Lisbon suggesting that Indonesia has opened
talks with East Timor separatist leaders in exile such as Ramos
Horta.
"The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ali Alatas) expressed his
amazement upon reading the reports because they are unreasonable
and appear to be another misinformation drive by anti-Indonesia
groups," said a statement from the ministry.
"The minister emphasizes that the only official course to
solve the East Timor dispute on the international level is
through tripartite talks between the foreign ministers of
Indonesia and Portugal under the U.N. secretary-general's
supervision. There are no plans to open any additional line of
talks." (pwn)