South Central Timor Regency

South Central Timor Regency (Indonesian: Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan) is a regency in East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. Established in 1958,[2] the regency has its seat (capital) in the town of Soe. It covers an area of 3,955.36 km² and had a population of 440,470 at the 2010 Census;[3] the latest official estimate (for mid 2020) is 467,990.[4]

South Central Timor Regency Kabupaten Timor Tengah Selatan
Regency
A rumah bulat ("round house") traditional house of South Central Timor
Coat of arms
Location within East Nusa Tenggara
South Central Timor Regency Location in Timor, Lesser Sunda Islands and Indonesia South Central Timor Regency South Central Timor Regency (Lesser Sunda Islands) South Central Timor Regency South Central Timor Regency (Indonesia)
Coordinates: 9°28′18″S 124°48′17″E
Country	Indonesia
Region	Lesser Sunda Islands
Province	East Nusa Tenggara
Capital	Soe
Government
• Regent	ir. Egusem Pieter Tahun, ST,MM
• Vice Regent	Johny Army Konay,SH
Area
• Total	1,524 sq mi (3,947 km^2)
Population  (2020 Estimate)
• Total	467,990
• Density	310/sq mi (120/km^2)
	[1]
Area code	(+62) 388
Website	ttskab.go.id

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.[5]

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.[6]

However, there are concerns amongst some local community groups, such as the Molo people in the Mount Mutis Sanctuary, 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.[7]

Administration

The regency is divided into thirty-two districts (kecamatan), tabulated below with their areas and their 2010 Census population[8] and the official estimates for mid-2017.[9] The table also includes the number of villages (rural desa and urban kelurahan) in each district, and its post code.

Name	English name	Area in km^2	Population Census 2010	Population Estimate mid 2017	Number of desa / kelurahan	Post codes
Mollo Utara	North Mollo	208.22	23,282	24,644	18 / -	85552
Fatumnasi		198.65	6,661	6,912	5 / -	85561
Tobu		98.89	9,377	9,960	8 / -	85552 ^(a)
Nunbena		134.49	5,078	5,281	6 / -	85544
Mollo Selatan	South Mollo	147.18	15,122	15,849	7 / -	85542
Polen		250.29	13,668	14,492	11 / -	85545
Mollo Barat	West Mollo	165.14	7,493	7,844	5 / -	85541
Mollo Tengah	Central Mollo	99.69	7,128	7,507	6 / -	85543
Kota Soe	Soe Town	28.08	39,285	41,108	2 / 11	85511 -85519
Amanuban Barat	West Amanuban	114.30	21,752	22,820	8 / -	85551 ^(b)
Batu Putih		102.32	12,129	12,777	7 / -	85565
Kuatnana		141.22	14,903	15,883	8 / -	85551
Amanuban Selatan	South Amanuban	326.01	24,051	24,927	10 / -	85562
Noebeba		186.02	11,358	11,775	7 / -	85567
Kuanfatu		136.52	18,977	20,013	13 / -	85564
Kualin		195.84	20,895	21,749	8 / -	85566
Amanuban Tengah	Central Amanuban	87.71	15,172	15,796	10 / 1	85571
Kolbano		108.70	18,476	19,406	12 / -	85563
Oenino		154.96	10,533	11,068	7 / -	85583
Amanuban Timur	East Amanuban	149.26	16,623	17,905	10 / -	85572
Fautmolo		46.34	7,256	7,728	7 / -	85582
Fatukopa		65.59	4,996	5,219	7 / -	85581
Kie		162.78	21,318	22,206	13 / -	85575
Kot'olin		58.94	11,125	11,749	8 / -	85576
Amanatun Selatan	South Amanatun	82.64	16,568	18,481	13 / -	85573
Boking		94.58	9,892	10,382	7 / -	85584
Nunkolo		69.09	13,744	14,671	9 / -	85586
Noebana		49.63	4,662	4,906	5 / -	85585
Santian		48.17	6,477	6,771	5 / -	85587
Amanatun Utara	North Amanatun	105.84	16,348	17,563	9 / -	85574
Toianas		103.95	12,382	13,198	9 / -	85578
Kokbaun		34.22	3,163	3,390	6 / -	85577
Totals		3,955.36	440,470	463,980	266 / 12

Notes: (a) except the two desa (villages) of Bonleu and Tune (which had a post code of 85561). (b) except the desa (village) of Mnelalete (which had a post code of 85514.

References

1. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.
2. 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
3. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
4. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.
5. Neville Kemp, 'Bird-watching on Timor a rewarding experience' Archived 2013-05-20 at the Wayback Machine, The Jakarta Post, 3 May 2005.
6. Yemris Foituna, 'East Nusa Tenggara: Farmers shift tactics to collecting stones', The Jakarta Post, 4 August 2012.
7. Nani Afrida, 'Aleta Baun: Environmental heroine', The Jakarta Post, 18 April 2013.
8. Biro Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2011.
9. Badan Pusat Statistik, Jakarta, 2020.