South Central Timor Regency

South Central Timor Regency
Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan
Regency

Seal

Location of South Central Timor Regency in East Nusa Tenggara
Country Indonesia
Province East Nusa Tenggara
Capital Soe
Area
  Total 1,524 sq mi (3,947 km2)
Population (2010 Census)
  Total 440,470
  Density 290/sq mi (110/km2)

South Central Timor Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan) is a regency in East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. Established in 1958,[1] the regency has its seat (capital) in Soe.

Mount Mutis, the highest mountain in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, is in the northern part of the regency. International visitors have noted that the region rich in bird life and that the area is a good site for birdwatching.[2]

The local economy in the area is poor and underdeveloped. Subsistence agriculture is the main economic activity in many villages. In addition, when opportunities are available, some local village communities sometimes undertake unregulated mining or other resource-based activities. For example, in the Kolbano Beach area south of Soe, there is a local industry in the collection of coloured stones. The stones, which come in a range of attractive shapes and sizes, are sold to local companies. The companies in turn export the stones to countries such as Australia, China, Malaysia, Singapore and elsewhere. Sacks of stones sell (mid-2012) for between Rp 10,000 to Rp 25,000 (about US$ 1.00 to US$ 2.50). Local villagers are reported to be able to earn around Rp 50,000 (US$ 5) per day collecting stones although there are complaints that the prices paid to workers who collect the stones are too low.[3]

However, there are concerns amongst some local community groups, such as the Molo people in the Mount Mutis Sanctury, about the environmental impacts of mining in the area. There has been social resistance, for example, to the activities of mining firms conducting marble quarrying. Partly as a result of the local resistance, marble mining firms abandoned their work in the area in 2010.[4]

Administration

The regency is divided into 32 districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their 2010 Census population.

Name English name Population
Census 2010
Mollo Utara North Mollo 23,282
Fatumnasi 6,661
Tobu 9,377
Nunbena 5,078
Mollo Selatan South Mollo 15,122
Polen 13,668
Mollo Barat West Mollo 7,493
Mollo Tengah Central Mollo 7,128
Kota Soe Soe Town 39,285
Amanuban Barat West Amanuban 21,752
Batu Putih 12,129
Kuatnana 14,903
Amanuban Selatan South Amanuban 24,051
Noebeba 11,358
Kuan Fatu 18,977
Kualin 20,895
Amanuban Tengah Central Amanuban 15,172
Kolbano 18,476
Oenino 10,533
Amanuban Timur East Amanuban 16,623
Fautmolo 7,256
Fatukopa 4,996
Kie 21,318
Kot'olin 11,125
Amanatun Selatan South Amanatun 16,568
Boking 9,892
Nunkolo 13,744
Noebana 4,662
Santian 6,477
Amanatun Utara North Amanatun 16,348
Toianas 12,382
Kokbaun 3,163
Total 440,470

References

  1. Government of Indonesia (9 August 1958), Establishment of the Second-level Administrative Regions under the First-level Administrative Region of Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara (in Indonesian), Indonesia Ministry of Law and Justice, UU No. 69/1958
  2. Neville Kemp, 'Bird-watching on Timor a rewarding experience', The Jakarta Post, 3 May 2005.
  3. Yemris Foituna, 'East Nusa Tenggara: Farmers shift tactics to collecting stones', The Jakarta Post, 4 August 2012.
  4. Nani Afrida, 'Aleta Baun: Environmental heroine', The Jakarta Post, 18 April 2013.

Coordinates: 9°28′18″S 124°48′17″E / 9.47167°S 124.80472°E