Dili bishop invites national human rights commission<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, the
\nhead of the local Roman Catholic Church, is appealing to the
\nNational Commission on Human Rights to come to the area where
\ntension has emerged in the past two weeks.<\/p>\n
Belo said the Jakarta-based commission should come to East
\nTimor to view the situation, especially given that one of its
\nmembers hails from the area.<\/p>\n
He was referring to Clementino Dos Reis Amaral, one of the
\nmost vocal members of the 25-person commission.<\/p>\n
Belo also defended himself against his critics in Jakarta who
\nhave accused him of fanning religious sentiments among East
\nTimorese by suggesting that recent conflicts have had some
\nreligious connotations.<\/p>\n
Calm has been restored in Dili after the massive demonstration
\non July 13 at the government-run East Timor university. The
\nprotest turned into a disturbance when police tried to break it
\nup on July 13.<\/p>\n
The authorities said the few people who were injured were
\ndischarged the following day and a number of demonstrators who
\nwere detained were all released the next day. The military
\njustified the police action to disperse the protest saying that
\ndemonstrators were getting out of control.<\/p>\n
Earlier reports suggested that the protest was held because
\nfour non-East Timorese were found to have harassed two local nuns
\nwho were taking entrance tests at the university. The military
\nsaid later investigations discovered that the four men were
\nvictims of malicious slander.<\/p>\n
The local military chief has also made a public apology to the
\nchurch in response to a protest regarding an incident on June 28
\nin which two soldiers interrupted a holy communion at a church.<\/p>\n
Wisdom<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antonio Freitas Parada, the speaker of the East
\nTimor legislative council, has appealed to all concerned parties
\nto refrain from making statements that could escalate the tension
\nin the province.<\/p>\n
\"I appeal to everyone to deal with the situation with a cool
\nhead and to exercise wisdom,\" Antonio told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
He said that trading accusations will only prolong the tension
\nand could \"boomerang\" because it is East Timor and its people who
\nwill suffer most.<\/p>\n
Addressing his appeal to the government, the military, the
\nchurch and local public figures, he said they should work
\ntogether to safeguard the peace in East Timor.<\/p>\n
\"I fear that certain third parties might try to take advantage
\nof the situation for their own benefit,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Antonio urged the government and law enforcement agencies to
\npunish those who originally caused the troubles in accordance
\nwith the law.<\/p>\n
He appealed to everyone concerned to resolve their remaining
\ndifferences and to join forces to build a better future for East
\nTimor. (yac\/emb)<\/p>",
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