Aversion to govt policies sparked E. Timor rioting<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The National Commission on Human Rights has
\nattributed last month's religious and ethnic rioting in East
\nTimor to the many unresolved political and social problems of the
\nterritory.<\/p>\n
Strained relations between indigenous residents and migrants,
\npoor communication between the government and the people,
\ncontinuing social conflict and malfunctioning political
\ninstitutions all contributed to the frustration that burst into
\nthe open between Sept. 2 and Sept. 14, the commission concluded.<\/p>\n
The spate of rioting in the capital Dili was triggered by a
\nMoslem prison official's statement which offended local
\nCatholics.<\/p>\n
Commission deputy chairman Marzuki Darusman said that the
\nrioters were venting their frustration at the numerous problems
\nplaguing the predominantly Roman Catholic province.<\/p>\n
\"The incidents were an outburst of accumulating problems,\"
\nMarzuki said when announcing the commission's findings.<\/p>\n
The commission concluded that in the course of the rioting,
\nthere had been numerous rights violations in the areas of
\nreligion, personal safety, property as well as the right to be
\nfree of fear.<\/p>\n
Between Sept. 2 and 14, Dili saw youths on the rampage.
\nMigrants were harassed and their houses attacked, mosques and
\nProtestant churches vandalized, vehicles set on fire and market
\nplaces burned down.<\/p>\n
The authorities have since arrested more than a dozen rioters
\nand detained the Meliana prison official who allegedly insulted
\nthe church when he was addressing inmates.<\/p>\n
Marzuki said that the relationship between indigenous East
\nTimorese and migrants, who dominate the local economy, are
\nparticularly sensitive.<\/p>\n
The commission suggested that political institutions in the
\nprovince improve their functions to better accommodate local
\nneeds. In addition, he said, local government officials,
\ncommunity leaders and the public need to improve communication.<\/p>\n
It also recommended that local religious leaders hold more
\ndialogs to address any differences that may exist between the
\npeople of different religions.<\/p>\n
The commission's report has elements in common with the
\nfindings of the Armed Forces.<\/p>\n
Chief of the Armed Forces Gen. Feisal Tanjung said during a
\nrecent hearing with Commission I of the House of Representatives
\nthat the riots had their origins in three unrelated incidents:
\nthe announcement of the results of the civil service entrance
\ntest, which angered those who were not admitted; remarks by an
\nofficial that denigrated Roman Catholicism, which is the main
\nreligion in East Timor; and the marriage of two people from
\ndifferent churches, which fueled anger among the local people.<\/p>\n
Earlier, the government said the riots had racial and
\nreligious characteristics because the targets were the migrants,
\nwho are mostly Moslem.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, about 100 ulemas from Jakarta and its surrounding
\ntownships went to the House of Representatives yesterday to
\nexpress their concern with the tension in East Timor.<\/p>\n
The delegation was received by Aisyah Amini of the Moslem-
\nbased United Development Party, who is also chairwoman of
\nCommission I for security and political affairs, and two
\ncolleagues, Abu Hasan Sazili and Ali Rasjidi.<\/p>\n
Led by Nur Muhammad SQ, the ulemas and principals of Moslem
\nboarding schools in Jakarta, Bogor, Tangerang and Bekasi lodged a
\npetition with the House, calling on the government to take prompt
\nactions to solve the problem.<\/p>\n
The ulemas called on the government to establish a fact-
\nfinding mission to obtain clear data on what triggered the
\nincident and the actual number of casualties.<\/p>\n
They suggested a number of actions be taken, including a
\nmeeting to gather together Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo of
\nthe predominantly Roman Catholic region, ulemas, the National
\nCommission on Human Rights, the Armed Forces and the government.<\/p>\n
They also called on the public to exercise self restraint and
\non Moslems to pray for solutions to the problems in the
\nterritory. (imn\/swe)<\/p>",
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