Calm returns to East Timor after riots<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The military says tension has
\ndissipated and daily activities returned to normal after the
\nrioting which caused dozens of people to flee their homes earlier
\nthis month.<\/p>\n
Local military commander Col. M. Simbolon told The Jakarta
\nPost here on Saturday that the situation had improved and that
\ntrading activities had resumed in the Komoro marketplace.<\/p>\n
The market was burned down during one of the riots, while
\ngovernment buildings and private houses were also damaged.<\/p>\n
Simbolon said a battalion of the Police's Mobile Brigade had
\nbeen dispatched from Jakarta and were currently posted in Dili,
\nMaliana and other cities in East Timor.<\/p>\n
A team from the National Commission on Human Rights launched
\nan investigation on Wednesday into the riots, which the
\nauthorities say targeted migrants.<\/p>\n
The riots were reportedly sparked by a remark made by a
\nprisons official that denigrated Roman Catholicism, the main
\nreligion in East Timor. Sources say tension has been mounting
\nbetween religious groups for some time in the territory.<\/p>\n
A total of 81 Moslem \"refugees\" fled the province to Surabaya,
\nEast Java, during the rioting. Most returned home earlier this
\nweek.<\/p>\n
PPP<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, in Jakarta, the executive boards of the Moslem-
\nbased United Development Party (PPP) and the ruling Golkar have
\nexpressed concern over the East Timor developments.<\/p>\n
\"We regret deeply the incidents which originated in the
\nincident and which have disturbed security and relations between
\nreligions in the province,\" PPP chairman Ismail Hasan Metareum
\nsaid in a statement made available to the press on Saturday.<\/p>\n
\"This was a violation of human rights,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Ismail also urged the government to \"investigate in a
\ntransparent manner the people responsible for the incidents, and
\ntake punitive measures against them.\"<\/p>\n
The party leaders called on Moslems not to be easily agitated
\nby rumors and not to resort to actions \"which will harm Moslems
\nthemselves, the nation and the country.\"<\/p>\n
The party called on religious leaders in East Timor to
\napproach and guide the people in developing a strong tolerance
\ntoward each other coexisting peacefully.<\/p>\n
Leaders should also refrain from \"behaving exclusively by
\nplacing the religions (they adhere to) in the forefront and
\ndisregarding other religions,\" the statement added.<\/p>\n
The PPP called on the government to restore the province to a
\nsituation conducive to efforts to develop peaceful coexistence
\namong religions.<\/p>\n
In doing so, the government should avoid favoring one
\nreligious group over another, the statement said.<\/p>\n
Golkar also expressed deep concern over the rioting and called
\non all parties to \"learn a lesson from the incidents about how to
\nfoster tolerance...among people of the diverse nation.\"<\/p>\n
In a statement signed by Golkar Chairman Harmoko and
\nSecretary-General Ary Mardjono on Friday, Golkar urged the people
\nto develop coexistence, within religious groups, among separate
\ngroups and with the government.<\/p>\n
Golkar praised community members who displayed self-control
\nand were not provoked by actions, launched by some parties, which
\nthreatened national unity and political stability.<\/p>\n
\"This shows that our nation has become more mature in dealing
\nwith situations such as the one that developed in East Timor,\"
\nthe statement said.<\/p>\n
Golkar praised the Armed Forces and local officials who \"have
\nmanaged to bring the situation in East Timor under control.\"
\n(yac\/swe)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/calm-returns-to-east-timor-after-riots-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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