Timor festival opens next week

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: This year's festival celebrating the various cultures of Timor is scheduled to be held in Timor Tengah Utara next week.

The Timor Culture Festival from Sept. 13 to Sept. 15 is being held to strengthen brotherhood between the cultures on the island, which was divided into two parts by Dutch and Portuguese colonial rulers in the 17th century.

Tuce Manugga, the chief organizer, said that the people in the western and eastern parts of the island historically have shared the same culture, Antara said.

The festival has been held in East Timor over the past few years. The last one was held in Balibo.

East Nusa Tenggara Governor Herman Musakabe and East Timor Governor Abilio Osorio Soares are scheduled to attend the event. (emb)