Youngest province set for investors

By Imanuddin

DILI, East Timor (JP): Twenty-one years after it was integrated into Indonesia on July 17, 1976, the former Portuguese colony of East Timor can no longer be considered an isolated territory.

The United Nations still recognizes Portugal as the administrative power here, but Jakarta is extending itself to speed up development programs in the province.

This approach has given East Timor infrastructure which is more than adequate for it to turn itself into a financially independent province. Public transportation now roams even the smaller streets of the province's towns.

The Armed Forces and local administration have guaranteed visitors' safety and access to the province's 13 regencies. They can enjoy the province's 2,683.91 kilometers of asphalt roads, telecommunications and other supporting facilities.

There are certainly some social problems that remain unsettled and need inter-departmental cooperation to resolve them.

"We (the nation) have all agreed that there should not be any questions about the status of East Timor," said Judith J. Dipodiputro, a special assistant for public relations and international cooperation to chief of the Indonesia-Portugal Friendship Association.

Jakarta has refused to hold a referendum on the territory's future as demanded by the imprisoned leader of the East Timorese Fretilin separatist movement, Jose Alexandre (Xanana) Gusmao. The Indonesian government claims that most of the 700,000 East Timorese chose to be integrated into Indonesia in 1976.

Francesco Mozina, a Portuguese Tropas (soldier) before East Timor's integration, said the Indonesian government had achieved many things that the Portuguese administration had failed to do.

Mozina, now living on nearby Atauro island, said East Timor enjoyed development only after it was integrated into Indonesia.

Principal Elias Fretes of the Santo Domingus Savio Catholic Elementary School in Baucau regency shared Mozina's opinion.

"Our children would not have been able to go to school if we were still under Portuguese colonial rule," he said.

There were only 47 elementary schools in 1975. Now, the province has 715 schools scattered across the province. There were two junior high schools in 1975, compared with 114 in 1996.

A year before it was integrated into Indonesia, East Timor only had one high school. This number grew to 58 last year. The province used to have no universities, but it has three now.

Discontent

Despite this proof of development, Judith said, many people were still dissatisfied.

The province's human resources remain under developed and unemployment has been a prominent source of discontent, especially among youths who have graduated with good educations and tried to enter the job market.

East Timor Governor Abilio Jose Osorio Soares said that about 25,000 people entered the territory each year to seek employment or start a business.

"We must go on with East Timor's development programs," Abilio said, adding that dissatisfaction over economic disparity and unemployment should be answered by even better development and distribution.

Geologist J. Sinambela of the Timor Foundation for Reconciliation and Development suggested the establishment of a key industrial project which could stimulate the development of other sectors, including agriculture and smaller industries.

"We have identified the cement industry as the most appropriate industry for East Timor," Sinambela said.

Violence and sporadic security disturbances by East Timorese separatist rebels continue.

But Judith said development should not be delayed or stopped because of the rebels' campaign to disrupt security.

Several street children, who admitted to frequently taking part in violent action including the burning of markets and public property, supported Judith's opinion that the campaign aimed to disrupt development.

"We were paid to create those disturbances," a high school graduate told The Jakarta Post.

East Timor Military Command Chief Col. Salamat Sidabutar said last Sunday that the number of separatist rebels had dwindled to a point where the movement was insignificant.

Sidabutar did not deny that it had taken the Armed Forces a long time to curb the activities of separatists, but said: "It was because our soldiers had been instructed not to use a security approach indiscriminately."

"Soldiers are required to take persuasive measures and try to avoid bloodshed," he said. "These people are our brothers."

Sidabutar said that most soldiers in remote areas were more active in public education programs than in military activities.

"Many of our soldiers teach people how to read and write and master certain basic skills," he said.