Belo and Horta receive Nobel peace prize<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Two East Timorese, Bishop Carlos Felipe Ximenes
\nBelo and Fretilin separatist leader Jose Ramos Horta, were
\nawarded the 1996 Nobel peace prize yesterday.<\/p>\n
Belo becomes the first Indonesian to receive the prestigious
\naward. He and Horta now join the prestigious list of laureates
\nwhich includes Myanmarese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi
\nand Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.<\/p>\n
\"The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel
\nPeace Prize for 1996, in two equal parts, to Carlos Felipe
\nXimenes Belo and Jose Ramos Horta for their work towards a just
\nand peaceful solution to the conflict in East Timor,\" the Nobel
\ncommittee said in their text announcement, as quoted by Reuters
\nfrom Oslo.<\/p>\n
The two men will split a cash award of 7.4 million Swedish
\nkronor (US$1.12 million) to be presented at a ceremony in Oslo on
\nDec. 10 that coincides with the 100th anniversary of Alfred
\nNobel's death.<\/p>\n
Belo, in Dili, East Timor, said he felt \"quite normal\" when
\nbeing told he won the award. He was informed while leading a mass
\nat a church.<\/p>\n
\"This is not only for me, but for all the people of East Timor
\nand for all of us, including those who have worked for peace in
\nEast Timor,\" said the 48-year-old bishop at his home yesterday
\nevening.<\/p>\n
Belo was kept busy yesterday evening with calls and guests
\ncongratulating him on the award.<\/p>\n
\"This is for everyone, institutions or individuals, who have
\nworked for human rights,\" he said.<\/p>\n
While not regarded as an opponent of integration, Belo has
\nbeen a vocal critic of the Indonesian government's policies since
\nbecoming bishop of the province in 1988.<\/p>\n
The former Portuguese colony of East Timor was integrated as
\nIndonesia's 27th province in 1976. Thirty years later, a small
\nbut active separatist group continues to wage a stinging campaign
\nagainst integration.<\/p>\n
Horta, 46, currently lives in Australia and heads the National
\nCouncil for East Timorese Resistance.<\/p>\n
Reactions<\/p>\n
Reaction in Indonesia over Belo and Horta's award was mixed.<\/p>\n
Antonio Freitas Parada, speaker at the East Timor provincial
\nlegislature, said Belo was \"too young\" to be nominated. He even
\npointed to another priest, Padre Don Jose, whom he considers more
\ndeserving of the prize.<\/p>\n
Parada was uncompromising on Horta's selection, saying he is
\nnot at all fit. Parada charged that it was Horta who helped
\nperpetuate the civil war in East Timor.<\/p>\n
Separately, F.X. Lopes da Cruz, vice-governor of the province
\nbetween 1976-1982, responded dourly here yesterday, but said
\nBelo's award was acceptable.<\/p>\n
\"I think in Horta's case, its a bit controversial,\" he told
\nThe Jakarta Post. \"How could someone who usually stirs up trouble
\nreceive the award?,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, government officials disparaged Horta's inclusion
\nas a joint winner.<\/p>\n
Indonesia's ambassador in Canberra, Wiryono Sastrohandoyo, was
\nquoted by Antara as saying that Horta has \"too much blood on his
\nhands\".<\/p>\n
In Jakarta, the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affair's
\nDirector of Information, Ghaffar Fadhyl, expressed \"regret\" that
\na \"political opportunist\" such as Horta was chosen.<\/p>\n
\"The Indonesian government considers Horta a political
\nopportunist manipulating the political situation in East Timor,\"
\nhe said.<\/p>\n
State Minister\/State Secretary Moerdiono, speaking in his
\nprivate capacity, expressed \"shock\" when he learned of the
\nannouncement.<\/p>\n
He questioned why the aspirations of the majority of East
\nTimorese, who supported integration, were not considered when the
\nNobel committee chose Horta. He further questioned the criteria
\nin which the selection was made.<\/p>\n
The Noble committee in their announcement in Oslo said they
\nwanted to honor Belo and Horta's \"sustained and self-sacrificing\"
\ncontributions.<\/p>\n
\"The Nobel Committee hopes that this award will spur efforts
\nto find a diplomatic solution to the conflict in East Timor based
\non the people's right to self-determination,\" it said.<\/p>\n
Yesterday's announcement comes just days prior to President
\nSoeharto's visit to Dili.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Australian Minister of Foreign Affairs
\nAlexander Downer in Sydney was quoted by AFP as saying that
\nBelo's award was \"well-deserved\".<\/p>\n
In Vatican City, spokesman Father Carlos Garulo said he was
\nhappily surprised to hear the news. \"He had already been a
\ncandidate for the Nobel prize twice. We no longer believed it
\ncould happen,\" he remarked. (03\/mds)<\/p>",
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