Military supports dialog to ease Timor tension<\/p>\n
DILI, East Timor (JP): The military would fully support Bishop
\nCarlos Filipe Ximenes Belo's proposal for a frank dialog to help
\nsolve the numerous problems in the territory.<\/p>\n
East Timor officials have, in fact, engaged in talks but they
\nhave yet to be institutionalized, Maj. Gen. Abdul Rivai, chief of
\nthe Udayana Military Command, who oversees security in Bali, Nusa
\nTenggara and East Timor, said here Thursday.<\/p>\n
\"An open and communicative dialog between East Timorese and
\nthe government could be effective to solve problems here,\" said
\nRivai, who assumed his post on Monday replacing Maj. Gen. Adang
\nRuchiatna.<\/p>\n
Bishop Belo proposed an open dialog earlier on Thursday when
\nhe met with activists of the powerful pro-government Pemuda
\nPancasila youth organization.<\/p>\n
Belo is generally seen as a unifying force in East Timor, a
\npredominantly Roman Catholic, ex-Portuguese colony of about
\n800,000 people which integrated with Indonesia in 1976.<\/p>\n
He made the suggestion in the wake of religious and ethnic
\nviolence in the streets of Dili. About a dozen people were
\narrested, several houses destroyed, vehicles torched and a market
\nburned down last week.<\/p>\n
The series of violent incidents were sparked by a local
\njustice ministry official who allegedly made insulting remarks
\nabout Catholicism. But Belo stressed that the incidents were only
\nthe tip of the iceberg.<\/p>\n
Belo said he wanted frank and \"communicative\" dialogs that
\ninvolved representatives from the government and various other
\ngroups.<\/p>\n
According to Belo, dialogs have taken place but they have been
\n\"instructive\" rather than two-way communications, with the
\ngovernment taking the initiative.<\/p>\n
\"Such an instructive approach has proven to create more
\nproblems rather than resolve the existing ones,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Rivai said that cases of rioting and social in East Timor are
\nusually triggered by conflicts related to the sensitive issues of
\nrace and religion.<\/p>\n
\"Rioting and social unrest usually occur because people do not
\nknow how to manage their differences,\" he said.<\/p>\n
In a recent interview with The Jakarta Post, Bishop Belo said
\nthat the recent flurry of religious and ethnic violence and the
\nlocal people's frustrations stem from numerous social injustices.<\/p>\n
\"Students who went on the rampage on the streets of Dili had,
\nin their minds, tales told by their parents, relatives, and
\nfriends about how frustrating conditions in East Timor have
\nbecome,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said that many indigenous people are frustrated to find
\nmore skilled migrants dominating political and economic
\nactivities in the territory.<\/p>\n
He added that riots are increasing in frequency because the
\nincoming propagators of other religions often lure the natives
\nwith money to change their religion. \"They also build places of
\nworship everywhere without official permits.\"<\/p>\n
Belo suggested that the government evaluate its development
\npolicies and enforces its laws indiscriminately in the former
\nPortuguese colony so that the natives will be more open to
\nmigrants and more law-abiding.(yac\/imn)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/military-supports-dialog-to-ease-timor-tension-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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