Bishop Belo pressured to sue 'Der Spiegel'<\/p>\n
BANDUNG (JP): The East Timorese bishop's denial and apology
\nhas failed to please government officials offended by his remarks
\npublished in a German magazine.<\/p>\n
Information Minister Harmoko and Home Affairs Minister Yogie
\nS.M. advised yesterday Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo to sue
\nDer Spiegel to prove he didn't lie when accusing the magazine of
\ntwisting his comments.<\/p>\n
They made it clear that the controversy surrounding remarks
\nmade by this year's co-winner of the Nobel peace prize is not yet
\nover.<\/p>\n
\"Bishop Belo has the right to sue Der Spiegel if he is sure
\nthe misquotation of his comments has cost him his good name,\"
\nsaid Harmoko, who heads the ruling Golkar.<\/p>\n
Although denying he meant to discredit the government or the
\nArmed Forces, Belo said Monday he would personally bear the moral
\nresponsibility for the substance of the interview.<\/p>\n
Government and military officials were angered by a statement
\nin the magazine attributed to Belo which said the armed forces
\ntreated East Timorese like \"scabby dogs\" and \"slaves\".<\/p>\n
The bishop categorically denied the remarks and apologized to
\nthose offended by the substance of his interview with Der
\nSpiegel.<\/p>\n
However, the 48 year-old respected Roman Catholic leader said
\nhe would continue voicing the grievances of the powerless \"simple
\npeople\" of East Timor.<\/p>\n
Harmoko said he was ready to help Belo file the law suit if
\nthe religious leader should encounter any technical problems.<\/p>\n
Separately, Yogie strongly rejected suggestions that Belo's
\nexplanation has ended the controversy.<\/p>\n
\"If Belo believes his remarks were manipulated, he should sue
\nDer Spiegel, this legal action would be good to restore his
\nreputation,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Army Chief Gen. R. Hartono, who described Belo's
\nremarks as unpatriotic and hurtful to the nation's pride, had
\nmade a similar demand of Belo.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in the East Timor capital of Dili, the Nov. 25
\nanti-government demonstration held in support of Bishop Belo
\nremained the talk of the town yesterday.<\/p>\n
The local chapter of the Indonesian Youth Committee, which is
\naffiliated with Golkar, pressed its demand for security
\nauthorities to take harsh action against the demonstrators.<\/p>\n
Spokesman for the organization Agustinho dos Santos Goncalves
\nsaid the protesters could not claim they represented East
\nTimorese youth.<\/p>\n
The demonstrations took place at the Dili diocese premises
\nwhere Bishop Belo gave a press briefing about his scabby dog
\nremarks to local and foreign journalists.<\/p>\n
East Timor police chief Jusuf Mucharum said the authorities
\nhave arrested three of the demonstrators on suspicion of
\ninsulting President Soeharto. (pan\/21\/33)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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