LACLUTA

 Geographic & Administrative

Lacluta is one of the sub district of Viqueque district which is located in southern part of East Timor. There are four villages in Lacluta, each village has sub villages: 1Ahik (Crarec Bocu, Hali Mean, Ai lo’oc, Cai Ua, Hali Oan), 2Dilor (Rade Uman, Boruc, Ai daac laran, Acadiruhun, Tula Oli), 3Laline (Aimetahun, Santo Antonio, Micradec, Fatu Cado, Mau Ama), 4Uma Tolu (Data metan, Tali oan, Ai Sucu Nuc, Crarec Maruc, Fahi Lain). Lacluta is boundary by Luca, Natarbora, Barique, Cribas and Kairui. The dialects in Lacluta are Tetum Terik, Mediki and Habu, but mostly people are speaking in Tetum Terik. Administratively Lacluta is governed by a sub district administrator which is native people. During the Indonesian time, the populations were all together in Lacluta town but after the independent, people have moved to several areas out of town such as Aitana Mountain, Aitara and some other area sub town to Lacluta. People are happier staying in mountain compare to the town as all they have are pure and original; water source, fresh and organic vegetables, food and fruits. People also search for prawn and fish in the river. People in Lacluta are building their house by coarse grass, bamboo and wood.

 Source of life

The major people live by agriculture products. Mostly people sustain their life by engage in gardens, paddy fields, the main production by farmers are cassava and banana, both commodities are harvested annually. There are a lot of agriculture products; paddy, taro, sweet potatoes, pine apples, watermelon, vegetables, candlenut, peanut, green bean, palm, beans, lemon, avocado, areca nut, coconut, papaya, and some other products. Also, people sustain their life from animal husbandries; buffalo, horse, pig, goats, crows, etc. The agriculture products and animals are sometimes sent to the capital for selling to get cash. However the cash flow is Lacluta is not fluid because people produce the same thing from the same area.

 Future Potential Resource

Monument inWeleur

Lacluta is a tropical area with two seasons; rainy and dry season. In the town of Lacluta, the weather is adjust with the seasons but in Aitana Mountain is keep humidity even in especially in dry season. Aitana Mountain is high has a historical as a hidden place by independent fighter during Indonesian occupation. There are two hot springs, one monument in Weleur and beautiful view along the street with green leaves. The old trees plant and the very fresh weather has made people are living such in their own paradise. In Lacluta town there is Bibileo Mountain which is very green and beautiful.

If the yields of the agriculture are managed modernity with the support conditions such as infrastructure and equipment; the people of Lacluta are able to create their own job however this is still a hope.

 Education and Religion in Lacluta

Mostly people of Lacluta are catholic but a fewer are protestant, Lacluta is not yet a parish however it has upgraded being pro parish with a native priest. In 2003 a mission from Portugal namely Comunidade Madre Santissima Trindade were based there till present. In the presence of them, the preschool was build and vitalized the education in Lacluta. There were just four elementary schools of each village but after the independence four additional primary schools have been functioned. With the spirit of Lacluta youth who were in Dili, together with the local communities and leaders, a private high school has been established as an optional for young people after junior high school, but the priority is to help family with insufficient economy and to provide more chance for Lacluta people in access to education. Even the students produced remotely with limited facilities and source but the result is satisfactory. This outcome has assisted student to easily access to the universities. The students are eligible on admission to the National University and being able to produce an academic people from the different background.

The development in Lacluta is not appeared yet; the bad road in town of Lacluta, uncontrolled environment by the local leader, the sub district administrative is not functioned well. As a data from ministry of finance, that none of the non-governmental organizations or aid are working in Lacluta because there is no strong base community to lead any activities. It is hope that the populations in Lacluta have knowledge enough to vote for the party that interest to their life and in the future election a new administrator has ability manage the budget allocation for the people’s life and has common sense of people needs.