Priest advises govt to review E. Timor policy
Priest advises govt to review E. Timor policy
JAKARTA (JP): The government was advised yesterday to review its development strategy in East Timor or face prolonged conflict with the indigenous people.
Gregor Neonbasu, an East Timorese Roman Catholic priest, told a seminar that the more acceptable development approach would be one that incorporated local cultural values.
"Fast development in East Timor will be useless if it is done without a human approach," Gregor of the Societas Verbum Dei congregation said.
The seminar on the Roman Catholic Church's influence on East Timorese culture was jointly organized by the National Resilience Institute (Lemhanas) and the Association of Indonesia-Portuguese Friendship (PPIP).
Also present at the discussion were Lemhannas Governor Maj. Gen. Moetojib and PPIP Chairperson Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana, President Soeharto's eldest daughter.
Gregor suggested that the government learn more about East Timorese culture to prevent misperception, miscommunication and disorientation when carrying out their development plans in the pre-dominantly Roman Catholic province.
"Otherwise the government and the military will continue making the East Timorese people scape-goats for the persistent social conflict," Gregor said.
Pastor Gregor, who has worked as a missionary in the villages of Ambeno, Uatolari and Uatocarbau in the Viqueque regency in since 1992, is on the Dili Diocese's social commission and is researching East Timorese tradition.
He said that in its mission, the Roman Catholic Church has tried to help the local people fight for their interests and welfare.
"The Church has actively participated in carrying out development in the province to make the East Timorese prosperous," he said.
He claimed that amidst socio-cultural conflicts, the church has acted as a "golden bridge" because it has always had a special place in the local people's hearts and minds.
"The Church is trusted as an institution that is able to accommodate and respond to the aspirations of all East Timorese," he said.
Reunification
Gregor said in his paper that he saw the integration of East Timor into Indonesia in 1976 as "reunification." Seen from a socio-cultural point of view, he adds, the province was part of what is now Indonesia before it was colonized by Portugal for 450 years.
He said his research documents the relations between the people of West and East Timor.
"In terms of oral tradition, I have collected a lot of data on the close relationship between East and West Timor," he said.
Despite their proximity, he said, the two regions had been separated for hundreds of years due to the Portuguese occupation of the eastern part of the island and the Dutch occupation of the west.
According to Gregor, the East Timor people are experiencing a cultural shock and are still trying to maintain their original identity.
He said the East Timorese people are faced not only with the Western culture inherited from the colonial era but also with numerous cultures from other parts of the country.
He said the government and ABRI should also help the East Timorese find their own identity while carrying out development in that province. (rms)